September 09, 2019
Jason McGee-Abe
Macquarie Infrastructure Partners IV has expanded its communications infrastructure footprint by acquiring Netrality Data Centers.
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), in partnership with Netrality’s management team, acquired Netrality from funds managed by Abrams Capital Management.
“Netrality’s facilities represent a critical form of digital infrastructure. In addition to facilitating the operation of the public internet, the sites also allow companies to build direct private connections between networks, improving performance, reliability and security,” said Karl Kuchel, CEO of MIP IV.
“We are very pleased to partner with Netrality’s experienced management team as we expand our portfolio of investments in communications infrastructure.” As one of the world’s leading alternative asset managers, with $129 billion in assets, MIRA invests in the communications infrastructure that underpins innovation in the world’s rapidly evolving digital economy – supporting the development and operation of broadcast, towers, fibre, cable, wireless networks and data centres.
The acquisition of Netrality Data Centers is a natural fit for MIRA. Netrality owns and operates some of the top interconnected data centres in core markets in the US. Through these facilities, Netrality serves customers and channel partners who need direct connections across multiple networks, clouds and other service providers.
These acquired data centres will enable Netrality to leverage MIRA’s sector and institutional relationships and provides access to significant growth capital to acquire new properties and businesses that are complementary to Netrality’s current portfolio.
Gerald Marshall, CEO of Netrality Data Centers, added: “Partnering with MIRA’s highly experienced investment team affords Netrality the opportunity to leverage their sector and institutional relationships and provide access to significant growth capital to acquire new properties and businesses that are complementary to our current portfolio. We look forward to collaborating with our new partners to continue to grow our platform.”
The news comes as Macquarie Infrastructure Partners closes the acquisition of Bluebird Network. MIP IV’s Kuchel said: “As bandwidth needs continue to rise, fibre has become the essential backbone for high-performance connectivity networks. We look forward to working with Bluebird’s experienced management team to grow the company’s network and services in the years ahead.”