A Goodman NextDC stake of 9.9 percent has been confirmed in a substantial holder notice lodged with the ASX this morning. Digital Realty and Goodman Group, through a 50:50 special-purpose vehicle, paid an average of $9.22 a share for 75.2 million shares. The total is about $694 million. Some of the stock was bought at $9.50.
NextDC’s board called the raid “an opportunistic move by Goodman and Digital Realty.” It said the purchase “comes two weeks after NEXTDC’s 21 October 2026 announcement of the M3 Melbourne power delay and revised FY27 guidance.” The buyers said they have neither formed nor made any agreement on further engagement, and have no present intention of submitting a control proposal or making a takeover offer. They reserve the right to do so if circumstances change.
What the Goodman NextDC stake notice actually says
The vehicle, Ackland Investments No.1, now holds 75,215,528 NextDC shares. The purchase schedule in the notice adds up to $693.7 million. NextDC shares had closed at $6.53 on the day the initial raid was reported last week. The average price of $9.22 is a premium to that close, but still well below the levels the stock traded at before the 21 October announcement.
NextDC deferred about $140 million in contracted Melbourne revenue after residents blocked the installation of 22-metre concrete power poles needed for the M3 expansion in West Footscray. The company cut its FY27 EBITDA guidance, paused uncontracted projects and began reviewing asset sales. Its chair is leaving. Chief executive Craig Scroggie has forgone his FY27 incentives. Two shareholder class actions are also being prepared.
Why the “no present intention” line is on the record
Goodman and Digital Realty said they look forward to a potential collaboration with the NextDC board and management on the challenges facing the company. Goodman has told investors that data centres make up 79 percent of its $19.7 billion of development work in progress, and that its global power bank has grown to 6.6 gigawatts, of which 3.6 gigawatts is secured. Its SYD01 site in Artarmon is under construction.
