NexSpace will create new, energy-efficient data centres to provide services to clients across the DACH region. NexSpace is positioned to take advantage of opportunities created by the growing demand for data storage capacity close to end users, at the “edge” of digital networks. NexSpace’s data centres will be focused on facilitating regional corporate customers’ IT outsourcing programmes, as well as those organisations particularly sensitive to the speed of retrieving data (low latency use cases) and its location for computing and storage services.
The NexSpace platform is anchored by a newly built, energy-efficient facility in Heidelberg, Germany, which is now operational and ready to service the science and technology hub of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. InfraRed will invest to deliver the first phase of NexSpace’s growth plans, prioritising organic greenfield development, and will work closely with the platform’s management team to create a regional leader in the edge data centre market.
Stephane Kofman, Head of Capital Gain Funds at InfraRed Capital Partners, said:
“This investment reflects our continued belief in the essential role of data centres as a critical piece of infrastructure to facilitate the digitisation of societies and economies worldwide. The regional small and mid-size corporate market and edge opportunity is a fast-growing pocket of the sector, requiring scale-up capital to serve its ambitious needs. Germany is ideally suited to this strategy, thanks to its large but regionalised economy and substantial base of ‘Mittelstand’ enterprise customers.”
Holger Sievers has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of NexSpace and will lead the efforts to establish the platform capabilities. He brings over 30 years of experience in the German IT sector, with a track-record of delivering sales and growth, with a focus on customer service. He led msg services for more than a decade and also held various senior positions at IBM and INFO AG.
Holger Sievers, Chief Executive Officer at NexSpace, said:
“I am delighted to partner with InfraRed and our other shareholders to develop NexSpace as we strive to deliver on the exciting opportunities in this market. Having witnessed firsthand the evolution of the sector over the past three decades, I believe that the edge opportunity represents the next stage of growth for the data centre industry. With a focus on greenfield development of new, energy-efficient facilities, I have no doubt that NexSpace is well placed to succeed.”
About InfraRed Capital Partners
InfraRed Capital Partners is an international infrastructure investment manager, with more than 190 professionals operating worldwide from offices in London, New York, Sydney and Seoul. Over the past 25 years, InfraRed has established itself as a highly successful developer and custodian of infrastructure assets that play a vital role in supporting communities. InfraRed manages US$14bn+ of equity capital1 for investors around the globe, in listed and private funds across both income and capital gain strategies.
A long-term sustainability-led mindset is integral to how InfraRed operates as it aims to achieve lasting, positive impacts and deliver on its vision of Creating Better Futures. InfraRed has been a signatory of the Principles of Responsible Investment since 2011 and has achieved the highest possible PRI rating2 for its infrastructure business for seven consecutive assessments, having secured a 5 star rating for the 2021 period. It is also a member of the Net Zero Asset Manager’s Initiative and is a TCFD supporter.
InfraRed is part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life. InfraRed represents the infrastructure equity arm of SLC Management, which also incorporates BGO, a global real estate investment management adviser, and Crescent Capital, a global alternative credit investment asset manager.
- Uses 5-year average FX as at 30th June 2023 of USD per GBP – 1.2970; USD per EUR – 1.1329. EUM is USD 13.676m
- Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”) ratings are based on following a set of Principles, including incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis, decision-making processes and ownership policies. More information is available at https://www.unpri.org/about-the-pri
About NexSpace
NexSpace is a newly established data centre company to serve the German, Austrian and Swiss (DACH) region, with a primary focus on colocation services. NexSpace caters to businesses seeking robust, secure, and reliable data storage and computing solutions. Our data centres are designed to address the growing need for data processing and storage near key economic areas without any compromise on service quality.
NexSpace is deeply committed to sustainability, with a specific focus on the integration of renewable energy sources and advanced, low-energy consumption systems within our facilities. This commitment not only aligns with our desire to be a good corporate citizen, but also ensures cost-effective solutions for our customers.