Analysts at Stifel have maintained their stock price target for Digital Realty at $235 following the data centre company's acquisition deal with Blackstone Group. The deal, announced on 12 July 2026, sees Blackstone acquire a 50% stake in Digital Realty for $16.25 billion. This values the company at around $26 billion.
The acquisition is part of Blackstone's efforts to expand its portfolio of data centres and cloud infrastructure. Digital Realty operates a global network of data centres, providing critical infrastructure for businesses and organisations. The deal is expected to enhance Blackstone's capabilities in the digital infrastructure space.
Industry experts have welcomed the deal, citing the strategic benefits for both parties. 'This acquisition aligns with Blackstone's growth strategy, and we expect it to drive long-term value for investors,' said a spokesperson for Blackstone. Digital Realty's CEO, Li Miller, added: 'We are excited to partner with Blackstone, which shares our vision for the future of data centre infrastructure.'
As the UK's data centre market continues to grow, driven by increasing demand for cloud services, this deal is expected to have implications for the country's digital infrastructure landscape. The acquisition is also likely to attract regulatory scrutiny, with the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and the EU's AI Act being key areas of focus. Experts have warned that the deal may raise concerns around data protection and cybersecurity, particularly in the context of the UK's post-Brexit data regime.
For UK businesses, the deal may lead to increased competition in the data centre market, potentially driving prices down and improving service quality. However, it could also raise concerns around data security and the potential for data breaches. As the deal unfolds, it will be closely watched by regulators and industry experts alike.