Dubai-based conglomerate DAMAC Group has taken a stake in Irish data center firm Dataplex Group Limited.
DAMAC’s stake in Dataplex will reach up to 45 percent. The partnership between the two companies will focus on brownfield projects involving retrofitting existing structures and larger greenfield projects, with a specific focus on hyperscale and wholesale colocation customers.
The companies, along with Dataplex investor Chirisa, have also acquired a land parcel in Abbotstown for a greenfield 70 MW+ data center and industrial campus development in Dublin, Ireland.
DAMAC Group is the private investment arm of Dubai billionaire Hussain Sajwani.
“DAMAC Group, through its global digital infrastructure company Edgnex, is developing data center facilities to support the growth of digital economies across the globe. Our work with Dataplex enables us to serve exponential demand coming from local markets, driven by rapid digital transformation, booming digital economies, and growing internet users,” said Sajwani. “We have a track record of recognizing opportunities, making significant investments and capturing a first-mover advantage. We are driven by market dynamics, not just by who needs capacity now.”
Dataplex develops colocations and wholesale data centers across Ireland and the UK, and has one under construction in Malta, according to its website.
“DAMAC Group has a unique vision for the data center market, and we look forward to helping it to bring its disruptive model to more cities around the world. Together with DAMAC Group, we can deliver digital infrastructure in underserved markets and support the growth of local digital economies,” said Eddie Kilbane, co-founder and CEO of Dataplex Group. “Our partnership will enable our organizations to grow together, and it will be great to work with the team at DAMAC Group.”
DAMAC also confirmed its ties to Edgnex. Launched in August, Edgnex said it was reportedly backed by an unnamed ‘multi-billion-dollar Dubai property firm,' but various members of Edgnex’s executive team had links to DICO Group and parent company DAMAC Properties.
The company said that over the coming months, Edgnex will be announcing acquisitions, building projects, and partnerships focused on developing data center facilities in emerging or underserved markets globally.
DAMAC also recently said it was considering investing in data centers within Italy following previous investments in Italian fashion group Cavalli.
