{"text":[[{"start":11.85,"text":"Alphabet said it plans to raise up to $80bn in equity to fund its vast AI infrastructure investments, a major pivot for a company that has been one of Wall Street’s biggest buyers of its own stock."}],[{"start":24.049999999999997,"text":"The fundraising announced on Monday includes a $10bn share sale to Berkshire Hathaway, which has been building a position in the Google parent company since the third quarter of 2025. "}],[{"start":35.5,"text":"Alphabet’s landmark share sale, its first stock offering in more than two decades and one of the largest equity raisings ever, marks a turning point for big US tech groups, which have embarked on an unprecedented spending spree to build the infrastructure powering AI. "}],[{"start":50.25,"text":"Until now, the big US tech groups have largely funded their AI spending spree with the torrents of cash generated by their core businesses and debt. But with Big Tech expecting to spend $725bn on AI this year, the bills have begun to strain the finances of America’s largest companies."}],[{"start":67.9,"text":"“AI is driving an expansionary moment for Alphabet,” the company said in a statement, adding that the fundraising would help to “support the significant growth opportunity ahead”. "}],[{"start":78.30000000000001,"text":"Alphabet reiterated on Monday that it planned to spend up to $190bn on capital expenditure this year, with that figure expected to “significantly” increase in 2027. While its operating cash flow over the past year totalled $174bn, it also took on $85bn of fresh debt to fund its spending needs. Alphabet holds more than $100bn in total debt."}],[{"start":103.70000000000002,"text":"The AI spending has led to accelerating growth at Google Cloud, which reported a revenue jump of 63 per cent year-on-year to $20bn in the first quarter."}],[{"start":113.70000000000002,"text":"Alphabet moved to raise equity because executives expect a sustained period of heavy investment in AI and want to diversify their funding sources while preserving balance sheet flexibility, people familiar with the matter said."}],[{"start":128.4,"text":"Alphabet shares fell more than 2 per cent in after-hours trading."}],[{"start":133.1,"text":"The private placement with Berkshire will lift the investment firm’s holdings of Alphabet to roughly $32bn, accounting for about a tenth of its stock portfolio. The stock issuance is one of the largest that Berkshire has ever taken part in."}],[{"start":146.65,"text":"It will also make Alphabet one of Berkshire’s five largest publicly traded stock holdings, alongside its long-held stake in Coca-Cola, which is worth over $31bn."}],[{"start":157.55,"text":"Berkshire’s involvement in the deal was hashed out over a 24-hour period, according to people familiar with the matter. It represents one of the most significant wagers by chief executive Greg Abel since he replaced Warren Buffett in the top job at the start of the year. "}],[{"start":173.9,"text":"In addition to the Berkshire placement, the Silicon Valley group will raise $30bn through a mix of common and convertible share sales, followed by up to $40bn in open-market sales expected to start in the third quarter. Most of the proceeds from the latter sales will cover the cost of a change in how Alphabet handles taxes on vesting employee stock grants"}],[{"start":195.95000000000002,"text":"Goldman Sachs served as placement agent on the Berkshire investment, as well as acting as a joint bookrunner on the equity raise alongside JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley."}],[{"start":216.15000000000003,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780363882_3403.mp3"}