EdgeMode, BlackBerry to merge into BLACK AI
Author: Joe Peck
Data centre developer EdgeMode and investment firm BlackBerry Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining plans to merge and establish BLACK AI, a publicly listed AI infrastructure development platform.
The proposed merger remains subject to final commercial terms, due diligence, definitive agreements, and customary closing conditions.
The two organisations have worked together for almost 12 months and intend to combine EdgeMode’s public company platform and AI infrastructure portfolio with BlackBerry AIF’s experience in project development, renewable energy, infrastructure, and commercial execution.
BLACK AI will initially focus on AI infrastructure projects in Spain and Panama, with plans to consider opportunities in additional international markets.
Vision 2035 strategy
BLACK AI’s long-term strategy, Vision 2035, will focus on developing AI infrastructure projects, potentially monetising selected assets at the ‘ready-to-build’ stage, and progressing other projects through development and construction.
The strategy also includes the potential to retain selected infrastructure assets as part of a portfolio intended to generate recurring cash flow.
Charlie Faulkner, CEO of EdgeMode, comments, “What excites me most isn’t the transaction itself; it’s the partnership behind it.
“Over the past year, Jose, Simon, and I have built enormous trust, respect, and friendship. The more we worked together, the more obvious it became that we weren’t trying to build competing businesses; we were trying to build the same company.
“Jose has assembled an outstanding team with exceptional technical and commercial expertise and, together, we believe we have the opportunity to build something truly special.
“BLACK AI combines project development capability, strategic partnerships, and access to the public capital markets in a way that positions us to pursue a genuinely long-term vision.
“AI infrastructure is one of the defining investment themes of our generation, and we believe BLACK AI has the opportunity to become a significant international platform over the decade ahead.”
Jose Mora, CEO of BlackBerry AIF, adds, “This partnership is built on a shared vision, complementary expertise, and a common ambition to build something exceptional.
“By bringing together our development capability with EdgeMode’s public-market platform, we believe BLACK AI will be well positioned to develop large-scale AI infrastructure across multiple international markets.
“We believe speed, execution, and long-term thinking will define the winners in this industry and, together, we are creating a platform designed to achieve exactly that.”
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