Hawaii’s largest carrier-neutral colocation data center, DRFortress, has been acquired by 1547 Essential Techniques Realty and funding agency Harrison Avenue. The deal, which marks a major improvement within the digital infrastructure house within the Pacific area, transitions possession from GI Companions, which had held a controlling curiosity in DRFortress since early 2020. The phrases of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.
DRFortress has lengthy been acknowledged because the state’s most outstanding interconnection hub, serving enterprise shoppers, international networks, and cloud suppliers throughout the Asia-Pacific area. Since GI Companions’ preliminary funding, the corporate has almost quadrupled its colocation capability, affirming its central function in Hawaii’s digital economic system. The brand new possession construction, combining the infrastructure improvement experience of 1547 and the worldwide funding sources of Harrison Avenue, goals to construct on this legacy and speed up DRFortress’s progress trajectory.
In an announcement, J. Todd Raymond, CEO and Managing Director of 1547, emphasised Hawaii’s significance as a strategic location. “DRFortress has established itself as an important interconnection hub for companies and international networks alike, and Hawaii serves as a strategic gateway for connectivity within the Pacific. By bringing DRFortress into our connectivity-focused platform, we’re increasing buyer entry to cloud suppliers, submarine cable techniques, and worldwide markets – whereas sustaining its carrier-neutral basis and persevering with to scale to satisfy rising demand.”
The acquisition doesn’t alter DRFortress’s management construction. Co-founders Rosa White and Fred Rodi will proceed of their government roles, making certain continuity for patrons and companions whereas overseeing each day operations and future service improvement. In line with the brand new homeowners, sustaining DRFortress’s native management is vital to deepening the corporate’s ties with Hawaii’s enterprise and tech communities and supporting long-term digital transformation throughout the state.
Overseeing $55B in Belongings Worldwide
Harrison Avenue, which manages roughly $55 billion in belongings globally, has made vital investments in digital infrastructure in recent times. Michael Borchetta, Managing Director at Harrison Avenue, said, “A key part of our technique is investing in essential digital infrastructure that satisfies the growing want for secure, high-capacity interconnection. DRFortress is an important part of Hawaii’s enterprise neighborhood and the bigger APAC space, and we’re excited to collaborate with 1547 to develop its choices.”
GI Companions, a non-public fairness agency with a concentrate on information infrastructure, expressed confidence within the new possession’s skill to help DRFortress’s continued success. “We’ve been happy to assist DRFortress develop into Hawaii’s premier interconnection hub over the past 5 years,” stated Mark Prybutok, Managing Director and Head of Information Infrastructure at GI Companions. “We’re sure that 1547 and Harrison Avenue are the best improvement companions to spearhead the continuing success of the excellent platform that Fred, Rosa, and your entire DRFortress staff have created.”
For DRFortress, the acquisition would sign a brand new part of progress. “This subsequent chapter with 1547 and Harrison Avenue represents a terrific alternative for DRFortress and our clients,” stated Rosa White, co-founder and CFO. “With extra scale, funding, and experience, we’ll be capable to broaden our companies and attain whereas persevering with to offer top-tier infrastructure options to companies throughout Hawaii.”
Sustainability Efforts
The Hawaii information middle will stay carrier-neutral and proceed to offer Tier III-quality companies with 24/7 uptime, in response to 1547 and Harrison Avenue. Along with resiliency, DRFortress incorporates environmentally acutely aware practices, together with the usage of renewable power and environment friendly cooling techniques, to attenuate its environmental footprint. These sustainability efforts are according to broader trade traits geared toward lowering power utilization whereas increasing digital capability.
Authorized counsel for GI Partners and DRFortress was supplied by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, with Financial institution Avenue Group LLC performing as unique monetary advisor. Harrison Avenue and 1547 have been represented by DLA Piper.
For each 1547 and Harrison Street, the transfer would underscore a rising dedication to creating digital infrastructure belongings in strategically essential however underserved areas.
