AirTrunk has secured US$2.325 billion in green financing to fund the development of its JHB2 hyperscale data center campus in Johor Bahru, marking the largest green project finance transaction for a single data center in Malaysia and the company's largest single-asset financing to date.

The deal, structured under AirTrunk's Green Financing Framework, was backed by a consortium of 30 local and international financial institutions, making it one of the largest lending groups ever assembled for a data center financing in Malaysia.

The transaction also marks AirTrunk's first financing from the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, establishing a new long-term institutional partnership.

Scale and Structure of the Deal

The financing was led by ten global coordinators: BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, DBS Bank Ltd., ING Bank N.V., Mizuho Bank Ltd., MUFG Bank Ltd., Société Générale, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, and United Overseas Bank Limited.

CIMB Bank, Clifford Capital Credit Solutions Pte. Ltd., International Finance Corporation, National Bank of Kuwait, and Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited served as Mandated Lead Arrangers, Underwriters and Bookrunners. Green Loan Coordinators were Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, DBS Bank Ltd., ING Bank N.V., and HSBC.

Edmund Tan, AirTrunk Senior Director of Treasury Loans, said the transaction reflects confidence from leading global financial institutions in the company's long-term strategy.

"Structured around transparent environmental KPIs, the financing supports our pathway to net zero by 2030 while reinforcing our commitment to building efficient digital infrastructure that creates long-term value for our customers, communities and investors," he said.

Environmental Design Targets at JHB2

The funds will support the construction and development of JHB2, which is designed to meet what AirTrunk describes as industry-leading energy and water efficiency benchmarks. The campus is targeting a design Power Usage Effectiveness of 1.37 and will deploy advanced water-efficient cooling technology.

IFC's Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Asia Pacific, Vikram Kumar, noted that the green loan also carries a water-related dimension aligned with established sustainability guidelines.

"This Green Loan also delivers blue impact through the implementation of water efficiency technology defined as per IFC Blue Finance Guidelines Version 2.0," Kumar said. He added that digital infrastructure must be built sustainably as it becomes increasingly important to economic development and competitiveness.

Antoine Rose, Head of Sustainable Banking for Asia-Pacific and Middle East at Crédit Agricole CIB, said the transaction illustrates how innovative financing can accelerate the delivery of efficient digital infrastructure. "Investors increasingly demand financing structures that link capital with transparent environmental performance," he said.

Social Impact Programmes Tied to Margin Savings

A portion of the value generated through the transaction will be directed toward AirTrunk's social impact programme in Malaysia. Margin savings arising from the green financing structure will continue to fund a set of community initiatives the company has established in the country.

These include recycled water programmes delivered through Gravity Water and Water Watch Penang, disaster relief activities conducted in partnership with MERCY Malaysia, and STEM education initiatives with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

AirTrunk has framed these programmes as an extension of its commitment to ensuring that digital infrastructure investment generates benefits beyond the boundaries of its campuses.

Pei Jet Lim, AirTrunk Vice President and Country Head for Malaysia, said the deal demonstrates how digital infrastructure development can be undertaken responsibly.

"As one of the largest issuers of sustainable finance in the global data center industry, we will continue to invest in infrastructure that prioritises energy and water efficiency while ensuring the benefits extend beyond our campuses through meaningful contribution to support local communities," he said.

Malaysia's Position in the Regional Digital Economy

The transaction comes as demand for cloud and AI infrastructure continues to grow across the Asia-Pacific region. Amit Sinha, Global Head of Telecommunications, Media and Technology in DBS Bank's Institutional Banking Group, said AI and digital services are reshaping economies across Asia, creating unprecedented demand for resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

"Financing solutions must evolve alongside this growth," Sinha said. "We're pleased to be building on this longstanding partnership with AirTrunk on a transaction that combines the scale required for future digital infrastructure with strong sustainability outcomes, helping position Malaysia as a leading hub for cloud and AI infrastructure in the region."

AirTrunk described the broader financing strategy as part of a company-wide approach combining investment in energy-efficient infrastructure, renewable energy procurement, water stewardship, and community partnerships to support growth in cloud and AI infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region. The company did not disclose a timeline for the completion of the JHB2 campus.

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