Blackstone-backed AirTrunk delays Singapore REIT IPO amid AI stock selloff, sources say

Singapore-based data center operator AirTrunk, backed by Blackstone, has postponed its planned REIT IPO that could have raised around $1.5 billion, according to sources familiar with the situation. The delay is attributed to the ongoing AI stock selloff, which has caused market turbulence. Initially scheduled for September or October, the IPO has been put on hold and AirTrunk is now targeting an early 2027 listing.

The market downturn, particularly the decline of chipmakers, has reignited investor concerns about the AI sector. AirTrunk, valued at approximately $15 billion, was on track to be one of Southeast Asia's largest listings. This postponement joins a series of recently canceled IPOs for data center and AI-linked equities, signaling a challenging environment for such offerings as investors reassess valuations, grapple with higher borrowing costs, and question the durability of AI-driven demand.

Firmus, another company, also dropped its IPO plans recently. Singapore-based data center operator DayOne is preparing to launch its US IPO ahead of the midterm elections, as reported by Reuters.