Aware Super extends digital infrastructure footprint with US$300 million APAC data centre business investment

Aware Super has today announced a US$300 million (~A$460m) investment into the Skyline JV data centre business, which indirectly owns Vantage Data Centers APAC ("Vantage APAC"), a leading global provider of hyperscale data centres with more than 10 high-quality assets across Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

The investment is the latest arising out of the Aware Super and DigitalBridge Group relationship which includes the successful 2023 co-investment in Switch Data Centres in the US.

The transaction also brings the A$210 billion Fund's total investments in digital infrastructure to beyond A$6billion - representing more than a quarter of Aware Super's total infrastructure portfolio - and reflects its high conviction in fibre networks, data centres, and connectivity platforms.

Aware Super's Head of Infrastructure Mark Hector said: "Digital infrastructure is a critical plank of Aware Super's infrastructure investment strategy.

"For a number of years, we have captured the mega-trends of digital infrastructure across geographies, recognising early the transformative potential of fibre networks, data centres, and connectivity platforms.

"This is a compelling opportunity for Aware Super to gain exposure to the digitalisation-driven high-growth APAC data centre market, with the region covering 60% of the world's population and projected to be the strongest growing cloud region.

"Even though the APAC region is forecast to require up to 20GW of data centre capacity by 2030 - driven by hyperscaler cloud deployments and Generative AI training workloads - the region remains underrepresented on data centre deployments per capita, further highlighting the attractiveness of this opportunity."

Mr Hector added the deal would enhance the Fund's hybrid investment model by partnering with DigitalBridge, a successful sector specialist partner. He also acknowledged Vantage's experienced management team.

DigitalBridge Chief Strategy Officer, Kevin Smithen said: "We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Aware Super in one of the fastest-growing data centre markets globally.

"Vantage APAC is a high-quality platform operating in markets with strong structural demand, and this investment aligns with our strategy of supporting leading operators as cloud and AI workloads accelerate across the region."

Vantage Data Centers President, APAC, Jeremy Deutsch said: "Vantage's APAC business is growing at an unprecedented pace. We appreciate the confidence our investors have in our platform and in our ability to execute at scale to deliver digital infrastructure to the world's most innovative technology companies. With partners like DigitalBridge and Aware Super, we are well positioned to expand our APAC portfolio to meet AI and cloud demand in markets that matter most to our customers."

Aware Super's digital infrastructure investments include:

• Vocus: a leading specialist fibre and network solutions provider in Australia
• 2Degrees: New Zealand's third-largest telco
• Switch: US-based hyperscale data centre operator and
• euNetworks: European bandwidth infrastructure provider.

These assets have consistently delivered above benchmark returns as Aware Super capitalises on global trends in digitisation, data consumption, and connectivity on behalf of its 1.2 million members.

Vantage APAC business is a part of the broader Vantage Data Centre's global network, which spans across North America, APAC, and EMEA. This investment into the Skyline JV business will support Vantage's significant pipeline of opportunities in APAC, expected to be the strongest growing cloud region globally.

Media enquiries:
Aware Super: Sara Bradford, [email protected] , + 61 478405382
DigitalBridge: Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher: Jonathan Keehner / Sarah Salky, [email protected], (212) 355-4449

About Aware Super:
Aware Super is one of Australia's top-performing and largest profit-for-member super funds with a core objective of delivering the strongest risk-adjusted returns for its 1.1 million members. As a A$210 billion global asset owner, we typically take an active management approach across alternative assets, including infrastructure, real estate and private equity, and additionally allocate to liquid markets. Returns for our A$21 billion infrastructure portfolio are driven by a globally-diversified program which captures global trends in demography, sustainability and technology to achieve a broad universe of assets. It has a targeted focus on opportunities in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia with a sector focus on energy transition and digital opportunities.

About DigitalBridge
DigitalBridge (NYSE: DBRG) is a leading global alternative asset manager dedicated to investing in digital infrastructure. With a heritage of more than 30 years investing in and operating businesses across the digital ecosystem, including cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure, DigitalBridge manages $108 billion of infrastructure assets on behalf of its limited partners and shareholders. The firm is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. For more information, visit www.digitalbridge.com.