Blackstone-backed data centre operator AirTrunk is in talks with commercial banks in September 2026 to raise approximately S$2 billion in debt to fund the Singapore listing of an asset-backed real estate investment trust.
The package spans multiple debt tranches ranging from three to seven years, structured in Singapore dollars and Japanese yen to match the underlying portfolio.
Refinancing Assets and Securing Liquidity
Proceeds from the loan will go directly to the planned real estate investment trust. The vehicle will use the funds to purchase operational hyperscale assets from AirTrunk and refinance existing credit facilities across its regional footprint. Pricing and final terms remain under negotiation with participating lenders.
Regional lenders have extended nearly US$29 billion in data centre debt across Asia since the beginning of 2025. As balance sheet limits tighten at major regional institutions, banks have grown stricter on underwriting criteria, favoring sponsors with institutional backing over smaller regional competitors.
Asset-Backed Structures and Bank Limits
Carving operational facilities into a publicly traded trust lets AirTrunk release balance sheet capacity while retaining operational control. The transaction also offers regional banks a route to distribute their credit exposure rather than holding long-term project loans to maturity on their books.
Sponsors across Asia face higher power costs and tighter underwriting requirements for server real estate. Moving cash-generating properties into a yield-focused vehicle provides an alternative pool of public capital, insulating the development pipeline from tightening private credit markets.
Building Out the Listing Roadmap
The borrowing plan follows an aggressive regional expansion by the operator. AirTrunk recently completed a US$2.3 billion green loan to fund its hyperscale campus development in Johor, Malaysia, expanding its footprint across Southeast Asia.
Preparations for the public offering have advanced over recent months, with the company preparing confidential filings for the trust. The planned Singapore listing aims to raise roughly US$1.5 billion in equity once terms and regulatory approvals are settled.