According to reports, Brookfield Asset Management is discussing purchasing European data center operator Data4. Brookfield is reportedly in 'exclusive discussions' to purchase a majority share in Paris-based Data4 that could value the operator at $3.77bn, according to unidentified sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters. Axa Investment Managers, the principal owner of Data4, recently held sales negotiations for the company, with Brookfield emerging victorious over other undisclosed investment groups. According to reports, a deal might be revealed as early as next week.
Data4, a company founded in 2006 by Colony Capital (formerly DigitalBridge), runs 29 data centers in Italy, France, Spain, Poland, and Luxembourg. Also, the company is building a former military barracks in Hanau, Germany, which might reach 2.1 million square feet and 180 megawatts. In 2018, AXA Investment Managers purchased the firm for an unknown sum, with the Danish pension fund PFA purchasing a 20 percent ownership in 2020. In 2021, the operator received $737,500,000 in loan finance to fulfill its European development objectives. Along with Digital Realty, Brookfield Asset Management owns data center operations in India (BAM Digital Realty) and Latin America (Ascenty). It also has DCI Data Centers in Australia/New Zealand. On its website, Brookfield states that it has around 50 data centers, more than 163,000 tower & rooftop sites, and approximately 13,700 miles of fiber.
