Meta planning to raise US$95bn to fund AI buildout

Meta Platforms has announced plans to raise up to US$95 billion in its largest-ever equity fundraising, as the social media giant invests heavily in its costly AI infrastructure expansion. The company has already launched public offerings worth approximately US$35 billion in common and preferred stock. Additionally, Meta intends to introduce a separate at-the-market share sale program, valued at up to US$60 billion, following the debut of its new non-voting Class C shares, expected in the first quarter of 2027. The company has not yet determined the specifics of the share sale timing and terms.

Meta's fundraising efforts, which would place it among the biggest AI companies, have also attracted interest from potential investors, including up to US$5 billion from Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Broadcom for Class A shares. This influx of capital into the AI sector has raised concerns about a growing circular flow of funds, as chip suppliers assist in financing the growth of their largest customers.

Meta has been investing substantial resources in chips and data centers to enhance its competitive position against OpenAI and Anthropic.

The recent fundraising initiative by Meta highlights a broader trend among major technology firms, who are increasingly turning to debt markets and equity financing to bolster their AI infrastructure. Previously, these companies relied heavily on cash reserves to fund their investments. Earlier this year, Alphabet announced an increase in the size of its equity offerings to US$84.75 billion.

On the same day as Meta's announcement, SpaceX revealed that an affiliate of Apollo Global Management would invest in AI chips and server hardware, subsequently leasing them to the rockets-to-AI company. This deal, with an estimated total principal payment of US$40 billion, illustrates the diverse range of entities involved in the growing AI industry.