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AXA IM’s Data4 eyeing $227m debut investment in Polish data centre market

Company has a war chest of $1.18 billion to finance further expansion across Europe as the colocation race heats up beyond mature markets.

By João Marques Lima

Founder and Editor, The Tech Capital

3 Mins

July 09, 2021 | 10:29 AM BST

French data centre operator Data4 said it is eyeing up investing as much as €200 million (US$237 million) in the expansion of its European footprint with a first campus in Poland.

Over €100 million ($118.5 million) of the cash investment are set to be invested over the next three years, with the full capital commitment of €200 million set to be deployed by 2025, according to French newspaper Les Echos.

The campus will spread over 4-hectares of land and at full build, it will amass 50MW of power.

The company drive to expand in Poland comes as its cash reserves for projects stand at €1 billion ($1.18 billion).

The majority of the capital was secured earlier in April through a €650 million ($737.5 million) debt financing round to support expansion across the continent. The round was funded by Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).

This was in addition to €500m ($592 million) raised in 2020, largely driven by Axa IM-Real Assets.

Data4 was established in 2006 by Colony Capital – which has recently rebranded to DigitalBridge – and it was subsequently acquired by AXA Investment Managers for an undisclosed amount in 2018.

Today, the company employs over 230 staff and operates over 20 data centre facilities across France, Italy, Spain, and Luxembourg amounting to a combined land footprint of 129 hectares and 204MW of IT capacity.

In addition to the new Poland data centre, Data4 is doubling it’s Paris campus power output to 200MW as well as expanding its footprint in Milan and Madrid.

Data4 president Olivier Micheli said back in April: “Despite the new challenges linked to the pandemic, 2020 has more than ever highlighted the crucial role played by data centres in the proper functioning of our society and our economy.

“The digital market will continue to grow and fundamentally transform our society, and we intend to participate very actively in its development.”

The executive said his business is aiming to double its turnover by 2024, to €200 million ($237 million) per year.

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João Marques Lima

Founder and Editor, The Tech Capital

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