ST Telemedia invests in UK-based Virtus Data Centres

• Investment made via joint venture with Virtus’ existing owner Brockton Capital
• New funds will support plans to expand footprint and services in key markets

SINGAPORE Technologies Telemedia (ST Telemedia) has invested an undisclosed sum into London-based Virtus Data Centres Ltd, which it said would help the latter accelerate its business growth.
 
ST Telemedia, through its wholly owned subsidiary STT GDC Pte Ltd, will make a “significant investment” into Virtus, committing to a 49% stake via a joint venture with Virtus’ existing owner Brockton Capital.
 
Alongside Brockton Capital’s continued support and UK-focused real estate expertise, the new partnership will allow Virtus to leverage ST Telemedia’s data centre experience and expertise to strengthen its market position, accelerate growth, and continue its mission to lead the industry, the Singapore company said in a statement.
 
Virtus was recently noted by 451 Research Group as “one of the most innovative data centre providers around” and was shortlisted for the Data Centre Industry Leader Award at the Datacloud Awards 2015.
 
“Virtus has experienced rapid growth in the last five years … the addition of ST Telemedia to our existing relationship with Brockton Capital will support our growth plans to expand our data centre footprint and services in key markets,” said chief executive officer Neil Cresswell.
 
“It’s exciting to be forming a partnership with a global organisation with the pedigree and track record of ST Telemedia.
 
“Its experience and reach, in particular its growing Asian portfolio with the likes of GDS in China and its data centre platform in Singapore, will hugely benefit our customers,” he added.
 
ST Telemedia’s experience in data centres dates back to the late 1990s when it introduced advanced Internet exchange services into Asia. In 2000, it launched i-STT which was later merged into Equinix in the United States.
 
Within ST Telemedia’s portfolio companies, Level 3 Communications owns and operates over 350 carrier-neutral data centre facilities throughout North America, Latin America and Europe; whilst GDS Services operates 17 high-availability carrier-neutral data centres in primary economic hubs across China.
 
In March 2015, ST Telemedia announced its plan to develop a 150,000 sq ft flagship data centre facility in Singapore.

“We're pleased to continue the momentum of our recent data centre expansion activities with today’s announcement,” said ST Telemedia executive director Sio Tat Hiang (pic).

“ST Telemedia’s investment into Virtus is at a fitting time for Europe’s data centre market, particularly in the top-tier, carrier-neutral segment, where we’re seeing attractive growth opportunities.

“This investment is consistent with our international data centre strategy and is of strategic importance as it gives us a vital foothold in London, a key global tier-1 data centre market,” he added.

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