Amazon Stakes 29% in X-Energy’s $12B Valuation, AWS Faces $150M Drone Strike Loss
Amazon owned 65.8 million X-Energy shares (29%) before its $23 IPO, valuing the advanced nuclear developer at about $12 billion after raising $1.02 billion. Separately, AWS data centers in Bahrain and UAE suffered an uninsured $150M loss from drone strikes, highlighting geopolitical risk to cloud operations.
1. X-Energy IPO and Amazon Stake
X-Energy closed its Nasdaq debut at $29.20, 27% above its $23 IPO price, selling 44.3 million shares to raise $1.02 billion. Amazon held 65.8 million shares (29%) pre-IPO, valuing X-Energy at roughly $12 billion on a fully diluted basis, positioning itself in advanced nuclear technology.
2. AWS Data Center Drone Strike Impact
Last month, drone attacks on AWS facilities in Bahrain and the UAE disrupted cloud services and forced customer credits costing Amazon about $150 million. Standard policies excluded war-related damage, leaving Amazon fully exposed to repair and operational recovery expenses.
3. Implications for Amazon’s Risk Profile
Amazon’s large equity position in a high-valuation nuclear startup underscores its diversification into energy infrastructure, while the uninsured WA S losses reveal geopolitical vulnerability in its cloud business. Both developments could influence investor sentiment on Amazon’s growth prospects and risk management strategies.