Firmus seeks to raise up to $5 billion in Australian IPO, sources say

Sydney and Hong Kong, September 14 - Australian AI infrastructure firm Firmus Technologies is planning to raise up to $5 billion through its upcoming initial public offering, sources indicate. This IPO would be the fourth-largest globally so far in 2023, trailing SpaceX, CXMT Corp, and Cerebras Systems, according to Dealogic data.

It would also mark the second-largest Australia-listed IPO, surpassed only by Telstra Corp's $10 billion flotation in 1997. Firmus aims to launch the offering in October, with its debut on the Australian Securities Exchange potentially occurring as early as late October. The exact size and timeline of the offering may still be subject to change.

Firmus initiated investor meetings in Asia on Monday and intends to conduct sessions in Europe and the United States before finalizing the Australian leg, according to a third person familiar with the matter. The planned share sale will serve as a test of investor interest in firms developing AI data centers and related systems, despite warnings from industry leaders about the potential challenges of sustaining rapid investment and model development.

Bloomberg News and the Australian Financial Review were among the first to report on the potential A$7 billion ($5 billion) size of the IPO. Firmus has already secured $2 billion in equity funding last month, boosting its valuation to more than $10.5 billion. This latest funding round saw participation from Nvidia, tech investor Coatue Management, Blackstone funds, and investment firm Jane Street, indicating continued investor confidence in AI ventures despite concerns over excessive spending and the sustainability of the AI boom.