Assessing Spark's datacentre deal with PEP

An artist's impression of a North Shore datacentre that Spark had planned to build itself. (Image: Supplied)

Wed, 13 Aug 2025

So anyway, some damn fool* wrote a headline on Tuesday claiming the Spark sale of 75% of its datacentre business for $486 million in cash and $98m in milestone payments in the next couple of years was a “low-ball” price.How about an alternative view?It may not have been top dollar, but for debt-strapped Spark, there is a lot to like for investors seeking better returns.Paying for optionsFor a start, Sydney-based Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) – no slouches in the private equity game – appear to be paying the thick end of...

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