MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED (ASX:MQG) shares rose nearly 2% to $222 in early trade after agreeing to sell US-based Aligned Data Centers for $61 billion to a BlackRock-led consortium, a year after its record AirTrunk exit.
Macquarie Asset Management, the seller, said the deal is the largest global data-centre transaction to date. Completion is targeted for the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions.
“The scaling of Aligned Data Centers from two locations to 50 in seven years is representative of our approach to working with great companies and teams to support rapid growth and deliver positive impact,” said Ben Way, head of Macquarie Asset Management.