Australia’s Maas Group will sell its building materials division for up to A$1.70 billion to focus on AI infrastructure, causing shares to plummet over 26%. The move aligns with a shift in investor interest towards data center construction to support AI systems. Heidelberg Materials’ local arm, HMA, will acquire Maas Group’s Construction Materials unit, while Maas Group will invest A$100 million in Firmus Group for a 1.7% stake. This marks Heidelberg Materials’ largest deal since the purchase of Italcementi in 2016. The market was surprised by Maas Group’s pivot from a strong construction business to the capital-intensive AI/data center sector. Australian data center landlord Goodman Group is also transitioning to data center development. Maas Group’s investment in Firmus follows a recent A$200 million electrical infrastructure contract. The completion of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2026, with 1,140 employees transferring to HMA to ensure operational continuity.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Maas Group tumbles on AI pivot as $1.2 billion materials exit spooks investors