Amazon Plans $8B AI Chip Sale-Leaseback Deal

Amazon reportedly plans to transfer about $8 billion worth of Grace Blackwell AI accelerators to a special purpose vehicle, which will then issue debt and a 10% equity stake to external investors. Amazon would continue using the chips under a lease agreement. The move would remove the chips and associated debt from Amazon's balance sheet, improving its debt-to-equity ratio and credit standing. The chips, estimated at $60,000 to $70,000 each, are installed across five Amazon data centers. Amazon has been in talks with potential backers for several weeks, according to the Financial Times.