Digital Realty falls 4% after taking $3.5 billion stake in Blackstone's Virginia data centers

Digital Realty experienced a decline in premarket trading following the announcement of its acquisition of a $3.5 billion stake in three data centers managed by Blackstone. The Austin-based data center giant will invest $1.2 billion in cash alongside $2.3 billion in shares to acquire these assets, which are located in Northern Virginia and collectively valued at $7.8 billion. The deal includes the purchase of Blackstone's 80% stake in two powerful 96-megawatt data centers situated in Manassas, Virginia, as well as a 50% stake in another 96-megawatt facility in Sterling, Virginia. As the market opened, Digital Realty's shares were reported down by approximately 3.7%, reflecting investor reactions to the significant financial commitment involved in this transaction. The acquisition is expected to finalize on Tuesday, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.