The European asset manager Aermont, affiliated with Keppel, has announced the acquisition of the Spanish data center operator Nabiax. This transaction, which includes the purchase of Telefónica’s 20% stake in Nabiax, marks a key step in Aermont’s expansion strategy in the digital infrastructure sector in Europe.
The sale, managed by Asterion Industrial Partners, represents an opportunity for Nabiax to continue its growth trajectory, supported by a new financial partner. While the financial terms have not been officially disclosed, previous reports indicated that Asterion was seeking around one billion dollars for Nabiax, reflecting the growing interest in the data center market.
Nabiax’s Expansion and Outlook
Nabiax currently manages three data centers in Spain, with an installed capacity of 35 MW, located in Alcalá de Henares and Julián Camarillo (Madrid), as well as in Terrassa (Barcelona). These centers offer Nabiax the potential to expand its capacity to over 100 MW, representing significant potential to meet the increasing demand for digital infrastructure in the country and across Europe.
Jesús Olmos, founding partner and CEO of Asterion, commented on the transaction: “We are proud to have created, alongside Telefónica, a company like Nabiax that has generated differentiated returns for our institutional investors through the development of an industrial project that enhances connectivity in Spain. We are convinced that Aermont is the right partner to support Nabiax in its growth journey.”
Aermont’s Strategic Role in the Data Center Sector
Aermont is a company specialized in asset management and real estate investment, having raised European funds with capital commitments exceeding €13 billion to date. Keppel, which acquired a 50% stake in Aermont earlier this year, plans to increase its ownership to 100% by 2028, thus consolidating its presence in the European data center market. Currently, Keppel manages data centers in countries like the UK, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands, with a total capacity of 100 MW.
Paul Golding, managing partner of Aermont, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: “Nabiax perfectly aligns with our strategy of supporting talented management teams in high-growth potential sectors. We look forward to working with Emilio Díaz and his team, building on the solid foundations established by Asterion and Telefónica, and exploring new opportunities in Spain and beyond.”
A New Horizon for Nabiax
Emilio Díaz, CEO of Nabiax, celebrated Aermont’s incorporation as a positive step in the company’s evolution. “The success of Nabiax has been an exciting journey alongside Asterion, and ultimately with Telefónica. I believe Aermont is an excellent partner for the future. Our team has successfully transformed a portfolio of assets into the leading data center company in Spain, and we face the future with ambition to continue growing in the Spanish market and explore new opportunities in Europe.”
A Solid Relationship with Telefónica
Asterion created Nabiax in 2019 through the acquisition of 11 data centers from Telefónica, later adding three additional assets in 2021 in exchange for a 20% stake. Telefónica will continue to be a tenant of the centers and will maintain the services it currently provides to its customers in the Nabiax portfolio.
This transaction highlights the surge in demand for digital infrastructure in Europe and positions Nabiax strategically to capitalize on the growth of the digital economy across the continent. With Aermont as its new partner, Nabiax is poised to strengthen its leadership in Spain and expand into other European markets, backed by the expertise and network of one of the continent’s leading asset managers.
source: DCD