DigitalBridge to buy data centre owner Switch for US$8.38b

DigitalBridge Group is taking data centre operator Switch private for US$8.38 billion in cash, the latest deal in a sector benefiting from the digital shift spurred by the pandemic.

The transaction announced on Wednesday values each share of Switch at US$34.25, a premium of 15% to the company’s closing price on May 9 when talks of it were first reported.

The data centre industry has emerged as a hotbed of consolidation activity thanks to its key role in cloud computing infrastructure and a strong growth outlook underpinned by the increasing digital presence of businesses.

CyrusOne last year agreed to go private in a US$11.49 billion deal with KKR & Co and Global Infrastructure Partners, while Blackstone snapped up QTS Realty Trust for US$10 billion.

Las Vegas, Nevada-based Switch was itself the subject of interest from multiple buyers including Brookfield Asset Management, according to a Bloomberg News report.

The company has more than 1,300 customers and operates and designs data centres in cities such as Atlanta. Its revenue rose by a quarter in the first three months of 2022 to US$164.6 million.

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“Through this partnership we will be ideally positioned to continue to meet strong customer demand for Switch’s environmentally sustainable Tier 5 data centre infrastructure,” chief executive officer Rob Roy said.

Switch’s shares rose more than 9% in premarket trading.

The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2022, after which Switch will be closely held by an affiliate of global infrastructure investor IFM Investors and DigitalBridge - a firm that invests in data centers, fiber networks and cell towers. REUTERS