Stock Markets May 18, 2026 02:22 PM

ACS to plow €1.8 billion into data centres, chip and AI infrastructure

Spanish construction group to fund digital projects through a small equity raise and proceeds from terminated swaps, with main shareholders pledging to take part

By Leila Farooq

ACS has unveiled plans to invest about €1.8 billion in digital infrastructure projects including data centres, chip facilities and AI-related assets. The company will raise part of the money through a capital increase equal to roughly 2% of its share capital executed via an accelerated bookbuilding, and will draw a further €1.1 billion from the termination of two equity swaps with CaixaBank and Societe Generale's Spanish unit. Major shareholders Rosan Inversiones and Criteria said they will participate in the share offering to preserve their stakes.

ACS to plow €1.8 billion into data centres, chip and AI infrastructure

Key Points

  • ACS will invest approximately 1.8 billion euros in digital infrastructure including data centres, chip facilities and AI-related assets - impacts construction and technology sectors.
  • Financing will combine a capital increase of about 2% of ACS share capital executed via an accelerated bookbuilding, valued at more than 700 million euros at current market prices - impacts equity markets and investor demand.
  • ACS will also use 1.1 billion euros from terminating two equity swaps with CaixaBank and the Spanish branch of Societe Generale; main shareholders Rosan Inversiones and Criteria will participate in the offering to preserve ownership - impacts financial counterparties and shareholder structure.

Spanish construction and engineering group ACS confirmed on Monday that it will allocate around 1.8 billion euros to new digital infrastructure projects that span data centres, semiconductor-related facilities and infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence.

The company said the financing plan has two principal components. First, ACS intends to carry out a capital increase equivalent to about 2% of its share capital. That share sale is planned to be executed through an accelerated bookbuilding process. At current market prices, ACS said the proposed transaction would be worth in excess of 700 million euros.

Second, ACS will make use of 1.1 billion euros arising from the termination of two equity swaps the company had previously entered into. Those swaps were agreed with CaixaBank and the Spanish arm of Societe Generale, and the company will reallocate the proceeds from their termination to the digital infrastructure programme.

The firm also noted that its principal shareholders have committed to participate in the equity offering. Florentino Perez, acting through his vehicle Rosan Inversiones, together with Spanish holding company Criteria, said they would subscribe in the stock offering in order to maintain their existing ownership positions in ACS.

The announced investment targets assets central to the digital economy, including large-scale computing facilities and sites tied to chip manufacturing and AI workloads. ACS framed the move as a focused allocation of capital toward these types of projects while specifying the funding mechanisms it will use.

The company provided the valuation reference for the share sale based on current market levels and identified the two equity swaps with CaixaBank and Societe Generale as a separate funding source. It also disclosed the stated intention of its major shareholders to take part in the capital increase to keep their ownership shares intact.

No additional operational details, construction timetables or project locations were provided in the announcement. The financing outline set out the immediate funding sources and the involvement of institutional counterparties and shareholders.

Risks

  • Valuation sensitivity - the capital increase valuation was stated relative to current market prices, so changes in market levels could alter the deal value and proceeds; this affects equity investors and market pricing.
  • Dependence on swap terminations - the plan relies on 1.1 billion euros from ending two equity swaps with CaixaBank and Societe Generale, creating reliance on those counterparties and the mechanics of terminating those instruments; this affects the financial sector and ACS's funding availability.
  • Market placement risk - the equity offering represents about 2% of share capital and will be placed via an accelerated bookbuilding process, which exposes ACS to market reception and pricing outcomes that could influence dilution and investor sentiment; this impacts the equity market and existing shareholders.

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