Digital Realty is set to acquire a $3.5 billion stake in three data centers from Blackstone, which includes a payment of $1.2 billion in cash and $2.3 billion in shares. The data centers, located in Northern Virginia, are valued at $7.8 billion and include an 80% interest in two 96-megawatt facilities in Manassas and a 50% interest in another 96-megawatt center in Sterling.
The transaction is expected to close on Tuesday. Despite the strategic nature of this acquisition, the market reacted negatively, with Digital Realty's shares falling 3.7% before the market opened, indicating potential investor apprehension regarding the financial burden of the deal and its impact on the company's balance sheet