DigiPlex Group, a Nordic developer, and operator of wholesale and colocation data centers in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, today announced that it has agreed to be 100% acquired by IPI Partners, a digital infrastructure private equity firm, which is a joint venture between ICONIQ Capital and Iron Point Partners. Specifically, the firm is investing out of its recently closed IPI Partners II fund which has $3.8bn in equity commitments.
IPI Partners is purchasing DigiPlex from Washington, D.C.-based private equity firm Kitebrook Partners, which is led by Byrne Murphy and Bill Conway. Finally, the transaction is expected to close in Q3 2021.
DigiPlex – Overview
DigiPlex operates eight data centers across the Nordic markets, with six facilities in Oslo, Norway; one facility in Stockholm, Sweden; and one facility in Copenhagen, Denmark. In aggregate, DigiPlex’s portfolio comprises 65+ megawatts of IT Load across 226k sqft (21.0k sqm) of built white space. Additionally, the company has over 4.3 million sqft (400k sqm) of developable land currently available for customer expansion.
Below is a breakdown of DigiPlex’s eight data centers across the Nordic region:
Norway – Oslo – Ulven (DNAS)
DNAS comprises ~23 megawatts of power capacity, across 55k sqft (5.1k sqm) of white space. The facility is an important carrier-neutral site in Norway which offers access to 25+ carriers and direct connects to Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Norway – Oslo – Rosenholm (DRAS)
DRAS comprises ~10 megawatts of power capacity, across 24k sqft (2.2k sqm) of white space.
Norway – Oslo – Fetsund 1 (DFAS)
DFAS comprises 10 megawatts of power capacity, across 45k sqft (4.2k sqm) of white space. This is a build-to-suit facility for EVRY AS, one of the largest IT services companies in the Nordics, on a 20-year contract.
Norway – Oslo – Fetsund 2 (DFAS2)
DFAS2 comprises 3 megawatts of power capacity, across 10k sqft (0.9k sqm) of white space.
Norway – Oslo – Fetsund 3 (DFAS3)
DFAS3 comprises 3 megawatts of power capacity, across 10k sqft (0.9k sqm) of white space. This is also DigiPlex’s newest facility which opened in June 2021.
Norway – Oslo – Hobøl (Holtskogen) Campus (DHAS)
DHAS comprises 6 megawatts of power capacity, across 10k sqft (0.9k sqm) of white space. Additionally, DigiPlex opened this new campus in October 2020.
Sweden – Stockholm – Upplands Väsby 1 (DS1)
DS1 comprises 10 megawatts of power capacity, across 64k sqft (6.0k sqm) of white space. This facility offers both wholesale and retail colocation. Additionally, DigiPlex has the ability to build an incremental 6 megawatts of power capacity at a future DS2 facility.
Denmark – Copenhagen (DC1)
DC1 comprises 1.6 megawatts of power capacity, across 18k sqft (1.7k sqm) of white space.
DigiPlex – Strategy and Positioning
DigiPlex has a strong presence in the Nordics, being the largest data center operator in Norway. In addition, the company has capacity for expansion to accommodate future requirements of hyperscale and major colocation providers. Under IPI Partners’ ownership, DigiPlex has the goal to expand into complementary markets in the Nordics and Europe.
Competitors
In Norway and Sweden, DigiPlex primarily competes with Equinix, Digital Realty, Green Mountain, Bulk Infrastructure, and GlobalConnect (IP-Only).
IPI Partners – Digital Infrastructure Portfolio
Over the past five years, IPI Partners has raised more than $5.25bn in total equity capital commitments through its two funds IPI Partners I ($1.5bn) and IPI Partners II ($3.8bn).
DigiPlex is IPI Partners’ second data center acquisition in Europe, following the purchase of Milan-based SUPERNAP Italia in February 2021. In addition, the firm has made investments into STACK Infrastructure, a joint venture with T5 Data Centers and Hillwood, and Dark Fiber and Infrastructure (DF&I).
Transaction Advisors – DigiPlex and IPI Partners
DigiPlex’s financial advisor was RBC Capital Markets. Additionally, DigiPlex’s legal advisors for the sale to IPI Partners were Latham & Watkins and Norway’s Wikborg Rein.
IPI Partners’ legal advisors for the DigiPlex purchase were Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, as well as Nordic legal advisors Schjødt and Lundgrens.
Nordics – Data Center Market
Norway, Denmark, and Sweden have been beneficiaries of investment from hyperscale companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Facebook, and Apple. Overall, the Nordic regions’ access to cheap, renewable power and natural cooling has made it an attractive destination for hyperscalers.
