Data Center Investment News — 19/01/2024

DigitalBridge Successfully Completes Deconsolidation of Vantage SDC

DigitalBridge has completed the deconsolidation of Vantage SDC.

Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, said: “I am pleased to report that today we are a pure-play alternative asset manager, fully aligned with our investment partners to drive long-term returns powered by the secular demand for digital infrastructure and our history of building value in the sector.

“With the deconsolidation of Vantage SDC, we achieved a key 2023 objective, simplifying our business profile and reporting structure, while maintaining financial exposure to Vantage SDC’s high-quality data centre assets serving key power-constrained North American markets.”

This move reflects a strategic step in the company’s financial and operational structure, possibly optimizing its focus and resources for future growth and development.

India’s CtrlS Datacentres to Invest in Gujarat Facility

CtrlS Datacentres in India is planning to invest in a facility in Gujarat.

Sridhar Pinnapureddy, Chairman, CtrlS Datacentres, said: “Located in GIFT City, the data centre will be easily accessible to all major clusters of the State. GIFT City is a global financial hub and home to several large international and national BFSI companies and is an ideal location for us.

“CtrlS Gandhinagar 1 DC will serve as an integral part of the larger digital infrastructure ecosystem, enabling the digital growth needs and aspirations of BFSI and other industries in the region.”

This investment signifies the company’s commitment to expanding its data centre infrastructure, catering to the increasing demand for reliable and secure data storage and processing services in the region.

Actis Sale to General Atlantic Means a New $96bn Alternatives Platform Is Coming to Market

Actis’s sale to General Atlantic signifies the emergence of a new $96 billion alternatives platform in the market.

The merger between the two players generates a global investment platform with approximately US$96 billion in combined assets under management (AUM).

“This merger represents a significant step forward in adding a sustainable investment capability which positions General Atlantic to capture this opportunity set for our investors,” said Bill Ford, Chairman and CEO of General Atlantic.

With General Atlantic, which has not made considerable investments in digital infrastructure to date, Actis will continue to be helmed by its Chairman and Senior Partner, Torbjorn Caesar, retaining its brand identity and independence in investment decisions and processes.

“The combined firm brings together distinct but highly complementary strategies that unlock long-term value for our investors,” Caesar said.

This strategic development is poised to have a significant impact on the landscape of alternative investments, potentially shaping the industry’s future trajectory.

Kao Data Appoints Doug Loewe as CEO

Kao Data has appointed Doug Loewe as its new CEO.

Loewe has previously held positions at companies including Macquarie Asset Management (from where he joined Kao), Virtus, Yondr, Interxion, Rackspace, Cable & Wireless, and CompuServe Network Services.

Kao’s former CEO Lee Myall announced he was stepping down from the role in April 2023. He led the company since 2020 and is now CEO of UK fiber firm Neos Networks. Kao founder and chairman David Bloom had been acting as the company’s interim CEO since Myall stood down.

This leadership change indicates a strategic move for Kao Data as it looks to drive growth and innovation in the data center sector under Loewe’s guidance.

Octopus Energy Invests $200M in Waste Heat Data Centre Business, Deep Green

Octopus Energy has invested $200 million in Deep Green, a waste heat data centre business.

“To tackle the energy crisis head-on, we need innovative solutions to unusual problems,” Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Generation, said.

“By using excess heat from data centres to slash energy bills for communities across the UK, Deep Green solves two problems with one solution. We’re looking forward to rapidly rolling this out and positively impacting even more people as we drive towards a cleaner, cheaper energy future.”

This funding supports Deep Green’s mission to leverage waste heat for sustainable data centre operations, aligning with environmental and energy efficiency goals.

800-Acre Data Centre Campus Planned in Northern Indiana

Plans for an 800-acre data centre campus have been unveiled in Northern Indiana.

The project will be developed on more than 800 acres near Huckleberry and Gordon roads, southeast of New Carlisle. New Carlisle is located in northern Indiana, west of South Bend and east of Chicago.

This large-scale project reflects the growing significance of the region in the data centre industry, potentially contributing to economic development and technological infrastructure.

Lerner Files to Develop 4 Million Sq Ft Data Centre Campus on Maryland

Lerner has filed plans to develop a 4 million square feet data centre campus in Maryland.

Spanning an 87-acre site, the project would span around 4.1 million square feet (380,900 sqm) of potential data centre space. Further details haven’t been shared.

The site, located in Landover to the east of Washington DC, was previously a shopping mall that has since been demolished. It had been earmarked as one of several candidates for the FBI’s new headquarters.

This ambitious project aims to address the increasing demand for data centre services in the region, potentially positioning Maryland as a key hub in the data centre landscape.

Microsoft Begins Work on Data Centre Site in Manassas, Virginia

Microsoft has commenced work on a data centre site in Manassas, Virginia.

“In January 2024, Microsoft’s general contractor, Lemartec, began site preparation work on Jacksonville Road in Manassas,” Microsoft said on a community blog update. “We anticipate this phase to be completed mid-2024.”

This development highlights Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to expanding its data centre infrastructure, meeting the growing demand for cloud services and technology solutions.

Macquarie’s AirTrunk in the Midst of $8bn Sale – Report

Reports suggest that Macquarie’s AirTrunk is currently in the midst of an $8 billion sale.

The company is also eyeing expansion, with plans to inaugurate at least five more data centres, including a 320MW site in Sydney.

Macquarie Asset Management took a controlling interest in AirTrunk back in 2020, in a deal that valued the company at A$3bn.

This potential transaction highlights the significant valuation and demand within the data center market, showcasing the company’s position as a key player in the industry.

DC Blox Files for Data Centre Campus Outside Atlanta, Georgia

DC Blox has filed plans for a data centre campus outside Atlanta, Georgia.

At the time, DC Blox said that the facility would span 750,000 square feet (69,675 sqm) of space with 216MW of total power committed by Georgia Power.

Now, in its filing with the state’s Developments of Regional Impact program, first reported by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the company revealed that the total project size will be 1,016,828 square feet (94,466 sqm).

That larger figure includes equipment yards, parking, and the substation. The filing also confirms the address as 1726 Farmer Road NW.

This strategic move aligns with the company’s expansion goals, aiming to provide enhanced data centre services and infrastructure in the southeastern United States.

MAA-10: Digital Connexion’s New Data Centre Launched in Chennai

Digital Connexion has launched a new data centre, MAA-10, in Chennai.

CB Velayuthan, CEO of Digital Connexion said, “We are excited about the launch of our first data centre in Chennai. This 100MW campus in Ambattur is ideal, given the availability of the necessary power supply, high number of submarine cable landing stations in the local area, and the state government’s aspirations to make Chennai the top data centre destination in India. We look forward to making this campus a destination of choice for customers, partners, cloud and service providers looking to expand their reach in India, starting with MAA10, the state-of-the-art first phase of this highly scalable campus.”

This facility adds to the growing data centre landscape in Chennai, addressing the increasing demand for advanced and secure data storage and processing services in the region.

CapitaLand to Invest Over $500 Million to Build Data Centre Tech Park in Chennai

CapitaLand has announced plans to invest over $500 million in building a data centre tech park in Chennai.

The data centre in Ambattur will be its third data centre in India. The project is likely to be completed by 2025. Apart from this it will also invest Rs 1,000 crore in its logistics portfolio in Chennai via Ascendas First Space.

This substantial investment reflects the company’s commitment to developing advanced data centre infrastructure and supporting the digital transformation initiatives in India.

UAE, Kazakhstan to Invest in Data Centre and AI Projects

The UAE and Kazakhstan are set to collaborate on investments in data centre and AI projects.

Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, minister of investment said: “The agreement reflects our commitment to further strengthening relations between our two nations and working together to realise a shared vision for economic advancement. The planned investments in data centre and AI projects in Kazakhstan will help enhance the nation’s expanding digital infrastructure, offering businesses more opportunities to embrace and gain advantages from digitisation.”

This international partnership aims to foster technological advancements and economic growth through strategic investments in the development of data infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

Azrieli Group Mulls $3.2bn IPO of Data Centre Unit Green Mountain

The Azrieli Group is reportedly considering a $3.2 billion IPO for its data centre unit, Green Mountain.

Green Mountain operates a facility in London and has multiple sites in Norway. Their client base includes names such as social media behemoth TikTok Inc.

The company is currently working on a new centre in Germany, further expanding its European footprint. At least US$5 billion are currently committed towards expansions, including US$4.6 billion into a new campus planned for Kalberg.

This move signifies the growing prominence of data centres as valuable assets, attracting substantial investment and potentially reshaping the financial landscape for the Azrieli Group.

Brookfield Seals $775m Acquisition of Bankrupt Cyxtera

Brookfield and its institutional partners, through Evoque has completed the $775 million acquisition of bankrupt Cyxtera. Evoque and Cyxtera will combine to form a data centre platform with more than 50 locations, predominately in the US and Canada.

Udhay Mathialagan, Chairman of the Board at Evoque and CEO, Global Data Centres, Brookfield Infrastructure, said: “Combining Evoque and Cyxtera is a strategic step that aligns seamlessly with our vision for data infrastructure investments.

“This move not only swiftly amplifies the joint organization’s market presence, but also diversifies its product portfolio and broadens its customer reach worldwide, with unrivalled connectivity, security, and scalability.”

Mathialagan added: “By integrating Cyxtera’s capabilities and valuable assets, we are providing essential capacity for current demand while also laying the groundwork for our future expansion and advancements.”

This acquisition has significant implications for both companies involved and the broader data centre industry, potentially influencing future consolidation and investment trends.

Jorge Abadia Pozuelo to run Actis’ new Latam data centres