BlackRock, IFM enter exclusive talks to acquire Stack Infrastructure's Asia Pacific data centers

IFM: IFM Investors is an Australian institutional investor with a strong focus on infrastructure and alternative assets. It has partnered with BlackRock-backed entities in exclusive negotiations for data center portfolios. Its involvement underscores the role of major pension and institutional funds in digital infrastructure deals. BlackRock: BlackRock is a leading global investment management firm with extensive activities in asset management and infrastructure investments. It supports the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), a key player in data center transactions. The firm is actively involved in consortia pursuing acquisitions of data center assets to bolster digital infrastructure. Stack Infrastructure: Stack Infrastructure is a data center operator with operations spanning multiple Asia Pacific markets including Australia and Japan. Its APAC assets are the target of acquisition talks by an investor consortium. The company is currently owned by Blue Owl Capital. Industry Trends: Data center development is accelerating due to demand from hyperscalers and generative AI applications, shifting bottlenecks toward power and permitting. Regional Activity: Investor interest in Asia Pacific data centers is intensifying as part of global efforts to expand computing capacity. Infrastructure Investment: Major asset managers are forming consortia to acquire large data center portfolios amid rising needs for AI and cloud infrastructure.