Apollo and Blackstone raise $35bn for Anthropic’s AI expansion
The $35 billion transaction underscores the deepening role of non-bank lenders in funding the capital-intensive artificial intelligence sector.
Private credit firms Apollo Global Management and Blackstone have raised $35 billion in a financing deal for Anthropic, the developer of the Claude large language model. The transaction is described as one of the largest private credit fundraisings to date, highlighting the significant capital inflows directed toward the artificial intelligence sector.
The capital raised is intended to fuel Anthropic’s artificial intelligence growth plans, specifically relating to chip financing. This focus on semiconductor-related costs reflects the intense capital requirements driving the current AI infrastructure build-out, as developers race to secure the hardware necessary to train and run advanced models.
The deal occurs against a backdrop of broader market activity and geopolitical engagement. US stock markets rose recently as President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced a two-day summit in Beijing. The summit agenda includes discussions on trade, artificial intelligence, and the Strait of Hormuz, with US CEOs such as Elon Musk, Tim Cook, and Jensen Huang in attendance.
Semiconductor supply chains remain a focal point of market sentiment. Nvidia shares surged more than 2% following news that the US approved H200 chip sales to Chinese firms, underscoring the ongoing significance of chip availability in the global technology landscape.
While the scale of the Anthropic financing is notable, the source material does not provide granular details on the specific structure of the deal or timelines for fund deployment. It remains unclear whether the $35 billion figure represents fully committed capital or a target raise. The characterisation of the deal as one of the largest private credit fundraisings is attributed to the Financial Times, rather than an independently verified statistical ranking.
