Google Announces $3 Billion US Hydropower Deal With Brookfield

Billionaire Ortega has acquired a stake in UK's PD Ports from Brookfield. US utilities are on the M&A trail, driven by the AI boom's increasing power demand. Starwood Property Trust is acquiring Fundamental Income Properties for $2.2 billion. Google has signed a $3 billion US hydropower deal with Brookfield, the largest clean energy agreement of its kind.

Billionaire Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex and the Zara brand, has expanded his investment portfolio by acquiring a 49% stake in PD Ports, a UK-based ports and logistics company, from Brookfield Asset Management. The deal, facilitated by Ortega's family office Pontegadea Inversiones, underscores the growing influence of family offices in global business [1][2].

Meanwhile, Verizon Communications Inc. reported a significant surge in its AI Connect offerings during the second quarter, with sales nearly doubling to $2 billion since its launch earlier this year. The company's robust network infrastructure and strategic position in the AI market have driven this growth, highlighting the increasing demand for real-time AI inferencing solutions [3].

Additionally, Starwood Property Trust, Inc. announced the acquisition of Fundamental Income Properties, LLC for $2.2 billion, further expanding its vertically integrated net lease real estate investment business. The company expects the acquisition to create synergies and diversify its asset base [4].

Furthermore, Google has signed a $3 billion clean energy deal with Brookfield, the largest of its kind in the United States. This agreement underscores the growing trend of major tech companies investing in renewable energy sources to meet their sustainability goals [5].

References:
[1] Reuters. (2025, July 22). Billionaire Ortega buys stake in UK's PD Ports from Brookfield. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/billionaire-ortega-buys-stake-uks-pd-ports-brookfield-2025-07-22/
[2] Bloomberg. (2025, July 22). Zara billionaire Ortega buys stake in PD Ports from Brookfield. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-22/zara-billionaire-ortega-buys-stake-in-pd-ports-from-brookfield
[3] Benzinga. (2025, July 22). Verizon's AI Connect Sales Surge to $2 Billion Fueled by Real-Time Inferencing Demand. Retrieved from https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46537805/verizons-ai-connect-sales-surge-to-2-billion-fueled-by-real-time-inferencing-demand
[4] Yahoo Finance. (2025, July 02). Starwood Property Trust Falls on $2.2-Billion Acquisition of Fundamental Income. Retrieved from https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/starwood-property-stwd-falls-2-150156159.html
[5] Reuters. (2025, July 22). Google signs $3 billion US hydropower deal with Brookfield. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/google-signs-3-billion-us-hydropower-deal-brookfield-2025-07-22/