BlackRock is organizing a debt issuance exceeding US$12 billion (equivalent to R$61.2 billion) with the goal of funding a new data center complex for Meta. This initiative consolidates the integration of two major recent acquisitions by the manager and expands its participation in financing the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI).
As reported by Bloomberg, this operation is the result of years of strategic planning by CEO Larry Fink, aiming to transform BlackRock, traditionally focused on public markets, into a prominent player in the private asset market. The debt issuance encompasses two companies acquired by BlackRock in recent years: Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), purchased for US$12.5 billion (R$63.8 billion), and HPS Investment Partners, acquired for US$12 billion.
Sources close to the transaction indicate that the deal also serves to demonstrate how BlackRock plans to combine the expertise of these two units in future ventures. Historically, GIP specializes in infrastructure project investments, while HPS has accumulated experience in complex financing and structured credit operations. Larry Fink confirmed that these two divisions have already begun joint operations in creating new businesses.
Following the release of BlackRock's quarterly results last week, the executive informed analysts that the combined portfolio of the companies is growing. Fink emphasized that the new projects are being developed in ways that strengthen confidence in the unified platform, especially regarding digital infrastructure. The agreement established with Meta dictates that the funds managed by GIP and HPS will hold an 80% stake in Project Sopaipilla Holdings, which is the official name of the joint venture created for this project.
This company will be responsible for raising capital through the issuance of debt securities. Meta holds the remaining 20% of the joint venture and will be in charge of building the data center campus and managing continuous operations. People involved in the negotiations added that GIP and HPS also hold equity in the project. The new data center complex will have a capacity of about one gigawatt and is expected to begin operating in 2028, generating more than 300 permanent jobs at the site after completion.
The marketing of the more than US$12 billion in securities began this Monday (20), conducted by JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. During presentations made to investors, BlackRock will be represented by directors Wes Altman from GIP and Garrett Cockren from HPS, according to information obtained about the process.
Those familiar with the subject consider BlackRock's entry as a partner a significant advancement for Meta's project. The architecture of this operation mirrors that previously used by the company in collaboration with Blue Owl Capital on the Hyperion project, located in a rural area of the American state of Louisiana. In that undertaking, Blue Owl also obtained 80% of the joint venture, while Meta retained the remaining 20%. This model allows the technology company to keep the debt off its balance sheet while preserving control over the daily management of the data center. In the same month, Meta announced the expansion of the scope of the Hyperion project beyond the area originally planned in the joint venture.
This operation reinforces BlackRock's strategy to increase its investments in infrastructure directed towards artificial intelligence and the data center sector. In October, the manager had announced a US$40 billion (R$204.2 billion) agreement to acquire Aligned Data Centers. This acquisition, whose closing is expected soon, unites GIP, BlackRock, and partners such as Microsoft, Nvidia, and MGX, a technology investment platform created by the sovereign fund Mubadala Investment Company of Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), together with the AI company G42.
According to Bloomberg, BlackRock is also entering a increasingly competitive market for financing the essential infrastructure to support the growth of AI. In this segment, competitors such as Blue Owl Capital and Blackstone have led some of the largest data center financing operations. It is important to note that neither BlackRock nor Meta issued official comments on this operation.
The Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, Samsung's premium wireless earbuds, are being sold on Amazon for R$ 1,799, with the option of installment payments up to 10 times without interest. This model has replaced its original launch price of R$ 2,099.
Launched in February 2026, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro offers high-definition Hi-Fi audio, provided by bidirectional speakers and enhanced woofers, ensuring clarity in highs and lows. A unique feature from Samsung is the new Samsung Scalable Codec (SSC), which operates at 24-bit and 96 kHz.
The earbuds incorporate adaptive ANC, a feature designed to isolate external noise, as well as 360 audio that allows executing commands, such as answering or declining calls, through head gesture recognition. For greater safety, Voice Detection prevents the isolation of traffic sounds when the user is on a call.
Integration with the Galaxy AI suite brings advanced functionalities, such as Interpreter Mode, which facilitates the translation of dialogues between speakers of different languages. Additionally, the Bixby assistant has been updated to function as an AI agent with chatbot capabilities to answer queries.
The design features new anatomical metallic stems, offering a better fit and supporting gestures, such as the pinch gesture for volume control. In terms of connectivity, the Buds 4 Pro uses Bluetooth 6.1, allowing for low latency and easy pairing with multiple Galaxy devices.
The battery life of the earbuds is up to 5 hours with ANC turned off and 7 hours with it active, as specified by Samsung. The charging case complements this duration, providing a total of 30 hours of use, and supports fast charging. Furthermore, the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro has an IP57 certification, indicating resistance against sweat, dust, and water splashes. There is also mention of a specific offer of R$ 1,399 in up to 10 interest-free installments.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) forecasts an adjustment in its chip manufacturing services, with increases potentially reaching 10% in 2027. This adjustment will apply to both mature and advanced processes.
The increase aims to offset growing costs related to materials, equipment, and the construction of new fabrication facilities. The information was gathered by Nikkei Asia through various sources informed on the matter.
The company, which produces chips for other corporations, has notable clients such as Apple, Google, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Amazon, and MediaTek. The price adjustment is expected to be implemented at the beginning of 2027, following discussions between TSMC and its clients in June, with the final decision made in July. Sources indicated that this more cautious approach aims to allow clients to adapt to the new price levels.
TSMC's services are divided into two main categories. The advanced chip line, covering 7-nanometer lithography processes or smaller, accounts for 77% of the company's revenue and is used in smartphone processors. For these advanced chips, the projected increase ranges between 5% and 10%, varying according to the contractor and the product. Additionally, orders exceeding previous projections may incur an extra charge of 10% to 15%.
The second line refers to mature chips, which include technologies such as 12 nm, 16 nm, and 28 nm, accounting for 23% of revenues. Although these are older technologies, these components continue to meet the needs of simpler electronics well. In the consolidated chip segment, increases can also reach 10%, although many products remain below this percentage.
Nikkei Asia points out that several elements of the supply chain have seen cost increases, including labor, raw materials, chemicals, and logistics. There has been a rise in the prices of items such as fiberglass fabric, printed circuit boards, lasers, and encapsulation packaging in recent months.
Furthermore, massive investment in building data centers for artificial intelligence has rapidly driven up demand for different types of semiconductors, increasing the prices charged. The scenario is also influenced by the dispute between the United States and Iran, which contributes to inflation in gas and oil costs. The publication also mentioned that Intel and AMD recently made similar price movements.
For those looking for good opportunities in technology, a variety of offers on popular products has been selected. Five promotions stand out with discounts reaching up to 53% reduction, covering items such as the Huawei Watch Fit 5 smartwatch, the Samsung Smart TV 55" combo with soundbar, the Galaxy A36 5G smartphone, the Galaxy Buds4 Pro headphones, and the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 gaming laptop. There are options for various consumer profiles, with starting prices from R$ 699.00.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 is a smartwatch that features an AMOLED screen, a light and modern design, in addition to 64GB of storage. It has a battery with autonomy of up to ten days, integrated GPS, and SpO2 (blood oxygenation) monitoring, sleep monitoring, and advanced health management, being compatible with both iOS and Android. In black, it offers a 53% discount, representing the largest drop on the list, and costs less than R$ 700.00.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 5G is a premium mid-range device from Samsung's A line. It features 128GB of storage, 6GB of RAM, a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen, a triple rear camera up to 50MP, and a 12MP selfie camera. It has IP67 water and dust resistance certification, NFC, a Snapdragon processor, and Galaxy AI features. In black, this model has a 42% discount, priced below R$ 1,300.00.
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro are Samsung's top wireless headphones, characterized by Hi-Fi audio, enhanced speaker, and active noise cancellation. They integrate fully into the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem and include Galaxy AI features, such as real-time translation. Available in rosé color, they are compatible with Android and iPhone, although with restricted functionality on iOS. These headphones have a 33% discount, with a price under R$ 1,400.00.
There is also the Samsung Smart TV 55" Crystal UHD 4K combo plus the HW-B400F soundbar. This set offers a home cinematic experience with robust audio. The television features a Crystal UHD panel with 4K processing and the Tizen system with streaming apps, while the soundbar enhances the TV's sound with strong bass and clearer dialogues. The combo has a 33% discount, generating considerable savings compared to buying the items separately.
Finally, the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 notebook (FX607VU-RL054) is equipped with an NVIDIA RTX 4050 graphics card, Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, featuring a 16-inch FHD screen in Mecha Gray. It comes pre-installed with KeepOS (Linux), requiring the separate purchase of Windows to run most AAA games (estimated cost between R$ 400 and R$ 700). This laptop has a 23% discount.
The five offers cover very different categories, and the purchasing decision should be guided by consumer needs. For those who prioritize health and physical activity monitoring with good cost-benefit, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 stands out as the biggest promotion, offering ten days of battery life and compatibility with both operating systems.
If the goal is to change phones without a large investment, the Samsung Galaxy A36 5G provides a solid package, including a Super AMOLED screen and IP67 certification, for less than R$ 1,300.00. Samsung ecosystem users looking for the best headphones can opt for the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, which combine Hi-Fi audio and Galaxy AI features in rosé color.
For those who want to modernize their entertainment area, the Samsung 55" Crystal UHD TV combo with HW-B400F soundbar guarantees a home cinema experience for less than R$ 2,800.00. Meanwhile, gaming enthusiasts, who are willing to deal with Linux or install Windows, can consider the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 with RTX 4050, a competitive gaming laptop for less than R$ 5,800.00.
Regarding the Huawei Watch Fit 5, it is compatible with iOS and Android through the Huawei Health app, unlike the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch. This makes it an attractive alternative for iPhone users who desire longer battery life, up to ten days versus the Apple Watch's 18 hours.
About the Galaxy A36 5G, it is suitable for daily tasks such as social media and streaming, as the 6GB of RAM supports light multitasking. However, for intensive use, such as heavy gaming or editing, models with 8GB of RAM offer better performance. Its main attraction in this price range is the Super AMOLED screen and IP67 resistance.
The Galaxy Buds4 Pro work with iPhones, but with limitations. Basic functions like music and calls operate normally, but advanced features such as Galaxy AI and real-time translation require a Samsung Galaxy phone. For full use, they are ideal for Samsung users, with AirPods being more recommended for native integration with iOS.
Buying the TV and soundbar together generally results in a more advantageous price than acquiring them separately, as Samsung optimizes the connection between the devices. The HW-B400F soundbar drastically improves sound quality, making dialogues clearer and movies more immersive.
It is important to note that the ASUS TUF Gaming F16 does not come with Windows; it comes with KeepOS (a Debian-based Linux distribution). To use specific software or play most AAA titles, you need to purchase the Windows license separately, which must be considered in the final budget.
