BlackRock, IFM close in on $25 billion Stack data center deal, Bloomberg News reports

A consortium including BlackRock-backed AIP and IFM is in talks to acquire Stack Infrastructure's Asia-Pacific data centers for around $25 billion. The deal is not yet finalized, and discussions are ongoing with Stack's owner, Blue Owl Capital. Stack operates data centers in Japan and Australia, and the deal reflects growing demand for data center infrastructure in Asia.

BlackRock Inc. (BLK) acquired over $1.5 billion in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) via its ETFs in five days. IBIT had $1.19 billion inflows, holding $67.25 billion in Bitcoin. ETHA saw $320.45 million inflows, with $9.74 billion in assets. ETHB had $15.64 million inflows, totaling $1.15 billion. BlackRock's crypto ETFs hold $78.14 billion. U.S. spot BTC and ETH ETFs saw inflows of $2.653 billion and $680.72 million, respectively.

A consortium backed by BlackRock (BLK.US) and IFM Investors is in exclusive talks to acquire Stack Infrastructure Inc.'s Asia-Pacific data centers, valued at $20B-$25B. Stack is owned by Blue Owl Capital (OWL.US). The deal, if finalized, would be among the largest data center transactions in the region, reflecting strong AI growth trends.

BlackRock-backed AIP and IFM are nearing a deal to acquire Stack data centres from Blue Owl Capital, valued at US$20-25 billion. Blue Owl initially sought over US$30 billion. AIP, which includes Microsoft and Mubadala, focuses on AI infrastructure. Deliberations are ongoing and may change. Stack's data centres are in Asia-Pacific regions.

BlackRock plans to allocate up to $100 billion toward infrastructure and wealth fund opportunities in the GCC, according to Ben Powell, Chief Investment Strategist. The shift is driven by evolving sovereign roles and diversified investor bases. BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners signed a $1 billion deal with Qatar's Lesha Bank. GCC states are expected to invest $2.1 trillion by 2030, focusing on resilience in trade, shipping, and energy markets.

BlackRock maintains an overweight position on U.S. equities in its Q4 2026 outlook, citing strong AI-linked earnings and economic activity. The firm highlights AI's role in increasing capital demand, with U.S. financing needs potentially exceeding $7.5 trillion by 2030. BlackRock also upgraded emerging-market equities to overweight, while preferring shorter-duration bonds due to higher yields and financing pressures.