Macquarie invests billions in AI data centres amid soaring demand

Applied Digital’s stock jumped 20% after securing a multi-billion-dollar investment from Macquarie.

Macquarie, AI data centres, Applied Digital, Australia, Stocks

Australia’s Macquarie has agreed to acquire a 15% stake in Applied Digital’s high-performance computing business and invest up to $5 billion in its AI data centres. The investment comes as AI-driven demand for computing infrastructure continues to surge, with companies racing to develop and train advanced models. Shares of Applied Digital surged by around 20% following the announcement.

Macquarie’s asset management division will initially invest $900 million in a data centre campus in North Dakota, with the potential for an additional $4.1 billion over the next 30 months. Applied Digital plans to use the funding to repay debt and recover over $300 million of its previous equity investment. The company’s CEO, Wes Cummins, stated that the deal provides the necessary capital to build and operate data centres with high power demands.

Applied Digital’s stock has more than tripled over the past two years, reflecting growing investor confidence in AI infrastructure. The deal follows Microsoft‘s announcement of an $80 billion investment in AI data centres for fiscal 2025. Applied Digital is set to release its second-quarter financial results after the market closes on Tuesday.