Ares Management Secures $2.4 Billion Debt Facility for Vantage Data Centers' Expansion
February 11, 2026
In a significant move underscoring the intense capital demands of the digital infrastructure sector, Ares Management Corporation has arranged a $2.4 billion debt facility for Vantage Data Centers. The transaction highlights the critical role of specialized financiers in supporting the massive build-out required to meet surging demand from cloud and artificial intelligence workloads. The global alternative investment manager announced that funds managed by its Infrastructure Debt strategy have committed to the substantial financing package. Ares itself holds approximately $1.6 billion of the total commitment and funded an initial tranche of roughly $330 million at closing. The capital is earmarked to refinance existing debt and to accelerate the development, construction, and operation of new data centers across Vantage's extensive North American portfolio. Vantage, backed by major investors DigitalBridge and Silver Lake, operates a formidable platform with 17 campuses across North America representing a combined IT load capacity exceeding 4 gigawatts. The company's stabilized portfolio is fully leased under long-term agreements with hyperscale clients, approximately 99 percent of whom hold an investment-grade credit rating. "Ares is proud to build on our existing relationship with Vantage and support its innovative projects across key markets in North America," said Brent Canada, a partner in Ares Infrastructure Debt. He emphasized the firm's position as an experienced lender poised to provide flexible, scalable capital for quality digital infrastructure amid accelerating technological demand. For Vantage, the deal reinforces its financial foundation for strategic growth. "We appreciate Ares’ support as we continue to reinforce Vantage’s leadership in the development of global, large-scale digital infrastructure," stated Rich Cosgray, SVP of Global Capital Markets at Vantage Data Centers. He noted that Ares brings scaled capital and deep sector expertise, which will help accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure for hyperscale customers. The company is actively developing projects in numerous U.S. states, including Ohio, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, and California. The financing signals robust investor confidence in the data center sector's long-term fundamentals, driven by the AI revolution and ongoing cloud migration. It also demonstrates the scale of capital required to keep pace with infrastructure needs, setting a benchmark for future deals in the competitive digital real estate market.
Source: datacenterdynamics
