AustralianSuper to acquire minority stake in Vantage EMEA for €1.5bn

AustralianSuper, the largest pension fund in Australia, has announced a €1.5 billion investment to acquire a significant minority stake in Vantage Data Centers Europe, Middle East and Africa (Vantage EMEA), a company sponsored by DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG). The deal represents AustralianSuper’s first substantial investment in hyperscale data centers and grants it entry into a high-growth market.

AustralianSuper to Become Key Shareholder, Supports Vantage EMEA’s Expansion

As a new key shareholder, AustralianSuper will collaborate with DigitalBridge to support Vantage EMEA’s rapid expansion in hyperscale data centers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The partnership aims to capitalize on Vantage EMEA’s campus model to accelerate time to market and continue its trajectory of growth and next-generation infrastructure capabilities.

What the Investment Means for AustralianSuper

This investment aligns with AustralianSuper’s portfolio diversification strategy, offering exposure to a market with strong growth prospects. Nik Kemp, Head of Infrastructure at AustralianSuper, commented, “The Vantage EMEA platform will complement our existing digital infrastructure investments and represents an important step for the Fund as we build out our infrastructure capability in Europe.”

Vantage EMEA’s Footprint and Future Plans

Vantage EMEA has established its presence in important financial and commercial hubs across six countries since entering the market in February 2020. The company recently announced its entry into the London market and is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Sureel Choksi, President and CEO of Vantage Data Centers, said, “This investment will fuel Vantage’s ability to accelerate the growth of our environmentally friendly, large-scale data center footprint across the region.”

The transaction is expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2023, pending customary closing conditions.