Blackstone Provides $10B Debt Financing to Firmus Technologies, Setting New Aus Private Lending Record

Blackstone provides $100 million in debt financing to Firmus Technologies, setting a new record for private lending in Australia. The funding, co-led by Blackstone’s Tactical Opportunities and Credit & Insurance funds with Coatue Management, will加速 the global rollout of Firmus’ AI data centers using NVIDIA DSX architecture’s Southgate project. The plan includes building a 1.6GW data center complex in Australia, targeted for completion in 2028. Firmus, already active in multiple locations and planning a listing on the Sydney Securities Exchange, raised $500 million in equity in November 2025 at a $60 billion valuation. The investment follows Australia’s rise to the world’s third-largest AI investment destination, with expected new data center investments of $1.5 trillion AUD ($1.05 trillion USD) over the next five years. Analysts note the strategic importance of AI infrastructure and the growing role of debt in funding AI-related infrastructure, while cautioning on the sustainability of returns if technological advancements or energy costs change. The project leverages NVIDIA chips and clean energy, targeting hyperscalers and AI-native enterprises, with Australia’s stable grid and policy environment offering a competitive edge.