Blackstone Weighs A$4 Billion Sale of Australian Data Centers Amid Expansion Plans

Recently, Blackstone has been considering the sale of two data center assets in Australia owned by AirTrunk. Acquired by Blackstone last year for $16.1 billion, AirTrunk's data centers are situated in Sydney and Melbourne. The potential sale is estimated to raise up to A$4 billion (approximately $2.6 billion), which Blackstone plans to reinvest in AirTrunk to support its expansion into new markets.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Blackstone has engaged advisory firms to evaluate the sale, though no final decision has been made. Specific details regarding which Sydney facility might be sold remain unclear. The SYD1 facility, finished in 2022, offers a capacity of 130 megawatts, while the SYD2 facility exceeds 120 megawatts. Another 320-megawatt facility is currently under development. Melbourne's data center has been operational since 2017 and, following recent expansions, provides a 185-megawatt capacity.

AirTrunk, founded in 2016, has rapidly expanded its data center operations across the Asia-Pacific region amidst the thriving cloud and AI sectors. The company operates 11 data centers spanning Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia, establishing itself as one of Australia's fastest-growing tech companies.

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset management firm, boasting assets exceeding $1.1 trillion under management. The company is also the world's largest commercial real estate owner, with a real estate investment portfolio valued at $602 billion. Founded on March 12, 2007, Blackstone operates globally across four main segments: real estate, private equity, credit and insurance, and hedge fund solutions.