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Microsoft plans to raise $25 billion in debt as it pursues AI buildout

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In short

The planned debt offering is scheduled to officially close on Nov. 4, with net proceeds targeted for general corporate purposes such as acquisitions, capital expenditures, share repurchases, working capital, and debt repayment. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood confirmed that the company uses leasing and favorable credit markets to complement its normal cash flow generation. The aggressive borrowing aligns with an industry-wide push for data centers, even as Microsoft maintains a distinct cash position compared to peers. Notably, Microsoft reported positive free cash flow this week, contrasting with negative free cash flow figures recently posted by competitors like Alphabet, Amazon, and Met…

Key points

  • Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood affirmed that Microsoft will tap attractive debt markets…: Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood affirmed that Microsoft will tap attractive debt markets and leasing to supplement cash flow.
  • Tech competitors including Amazon, Alphabet, CoreWeave, and Oracle are also actively tapp…: Tech competitors including Amazon, Alphabet, CoreWeave, and Oracle are also actively tapping debt markets to fund data centers.
  • Unlike industry rivals Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta that recently reported negative free ca…: Unlike industry rivals Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta that recently reported negative free cash flow, Microsoft reported positive free cash flow.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Microsoft on Thursday announced plans to raise $25 billion in bonds, taking advantage of its healthy credit rating to support its infrastructure expansion.

The software maker holds a top-tier AAA rating with S&P, a credit agency. Management is targeting $170 billion in 2026 capital expenditures, as the company looks to meet heavy demand from artificial intelligence labs Anthropic and OpenAI, as well as other clients.

"Microsoft intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding for working capital, capital expenditures, repurchases of capital stock, acquisitions, and repayment of existing debt," according to a statement. The offerings should close on Nov. 4, the company said.

Amazon and Alphabet have engaged the bond market to support infrastructure projects this year, and AI-focused cloud CoreWeave has also relied on the debt market to broaden its data center footprint. Investors have turned more skittish on companies with tall debt piles as central bankers raise interest rates to fight inflation.

Microsoft will access additional funding sources to complement its own cash flow generation when…

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