Key facts
- Investor demand for AI supply chain exposure is predicted to increase capital market activity in Australia.
- Australia's top dealmaker, Macquarie, anticipates this trend will lead to more deals.
- In the first half of 2026, Australian capital markets raised approximately $11.4 billion through IPOs, placements, rights offerings, and block trades.
- This represents an increase from $10.6 billion in the same period of the previous year.
- Follow-on share sales linked to AI infrastructure development were a major driver of this capital raising.
- NEXTDC Ltd. raised A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) in Australia's largest deal of the year.
- Megaport Ltd. raised A$827.3 million through an entitlement offer in June.
Macquarie, Australia's leading dealmaker, predicts that strong investor demand for companies involved in the artificial intelligence supply chain will spur increased capital market activity and deal-making within the country. This surge in interest is already reflected in the capital raised during the first half of 2026, which reached approximately $11.4 billion, surpassing the $10.6 billion from the same period last year.
A significant portion of this capital has been channeled into follow-on share sales supporting the AI buildout. Notably, data center operator NEXTDC Ltd. secured A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion), marking the largest deal in Australia for the year. Another substantial transaction was network software provider Megaport Ltd.'s entitlement offer in June, which generated A$827.3 million in proceeds.