Aker ASA Invests in Nscale's Record-Breaking $1.1 Billion Series B Round

In a significant move for both companies, Aker ASA, a prominent industrial investment firm based in Norway, has made headlines by participating in Nscale Global Holdings Ltd.'s recently closed $1.1 billion Series B funding round. This funding is a testament to the growing demand for advanced AI infrastructure, which Nscale specializes in. The funding round was oversubscribed, indicating a robust interest from global investors in Nscale's vision of sovereign-grade AI infrastructures designed for scalability and efficiency.

Aker’s commitment totaled an impressive $285 million, which includes both cash and contributions from the Narvik land portfolio as in-kind support. Through this investment, Aker has effectively positioned itself as one of Nscale's largest shareholders, with a 9.3% stake on a fully diluted basis. There is potential for this ownership to rise further to 12.2% depending on future valuation milestones, presenting a highly promising investment opportunity for Aker.

Furthermore, Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO of Aker ASA, is slated to join the Board of Directors at Nscale. Eriksen has emphasized the crucial role AI plays in transforming the global economy and highlighted the necessity of renewable energy infrastructures in this change. According to him, Nscale’s strategic approach, particularly its GPU-first model, provides a significant edge in executing AI projects. He remarked, "Backing infrastructure that is sovereign, scalable, and purpose-built to accelerate the transformation is vital, and we are committed to making long-term investments in this area."

The Aker-Nscale Joint Venture

As part of this noteworthy investment, Aker is collaborating with Nscale in a joint venture focused on AI infrastructure development. The joint venture is expected to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2025, combining assets and capital contributions from both companies. The agreement has been structured so that Aker's 50% stake in this venture can later convert into additional Nscale shares at a potential IPO, unlocking significant long-term value for the firm.

The joint initiative marks an essential transition towards AI-driven infrastructure that is not only innovative but also designed to meet sovereign-grade demands. Furthermore, leading corporations like OpenAI and Microsoft are set to be the first clients of the joint venture, which amplifies the credibility and anticipated success of this partnership.

About Nscale

Nscale Global Holdings Ltd. is recognized as a forerunner in delivering sovereign-grade AI infrastructure. Their approach focuses on providing powerful computing solutions tailored for large-scale generative AI operations. By maintaining a completely integrated suite of AI services and constructing environmentally sustainable data centers across North America and Europe, Nscale empowers its clients with the ability to efficiently manage AI training, fine-tuning, and inference tasks. Their commitment to providing scalable, reliable AI infrastructure aligns with current market demands and future technological advancements.

About Aker

Founded in 1841, Aker ASA is an industry powerhouse that specializes in fostering growth among companies in the energy sector, industrial software, renewables, and marine biotechnology. As a leading investor, Aker combines extensive industrial expertise with financial acumen to support long-term value creation through active business management.

The convergence of Aker’s extensive experience and Nscale’s innovative AI solutions presents an exciting prospect for the future of AI infrastructure and energy management. As this partnership evolves, stakeholders within the tech and energy sectors can anticipate transformative advancements fueled by their collaboration.

For further updates, stay tuned as both companies forge ahead in the evolving landscape of AI-driven infrastructure and technology.