Data Storage
Globenewswire | July 04, 2023
ABP and OMERS Infrastructure have today announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of Kenter from Alliander Corporate Ventures. Kenter is an energy infrastructure solutions business providing medium-voltage infrastructure – including transformers and switchgear – and meters to over 25,000 commercial and industrial business customers in the Netherlands and Belgium. This investment is done by APG Asset Management on behalf of ABP, the largest pension fund in the Netherlands; OMERS Infrastructure is investing on behalf of OMERS, one of the largest pension plans in Canada.
ABP and OMERS investment in Kenter will be the consortium’s second joint investment in the Dutch B2B energy solutions sector, after reaching close on their investment in Groendus in November last year. Groendus develops, builds and operates rooftop solar and storage solutions, meters and electric vehicle chargers for its commercial and industrial business customers, as well as providing access to its proprietary energy management system and energy marketplace, Groendus Energiemarktplaats. Upon close, the shareholders envision that Kenter and Groendus will partner to offer existing and new customers holistic, integrated energy solutions to support the decarbonization of their operations and help them reach their net zero goals.
Harmen van Wijnen, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at ABP, said: “ABP likes to invest in the Netherlands in order to stimulate economic growth, employment and sustainable projects. We also want to contribute to the energy transition and wholeheartedly support our nation's climate objectives. Therefore, investments in the electrification infrastructure are needed on a large scale. This investment benefits our three million participants in several ways. It not only contributes to sufficient and sustainably generated energy in the Netherlands but also generates long-term value for our pension participants.”
Jan-Willem Ruisbroek, Head of Global Infrastructure Investment Strategy at APG, said: “The energy transition is propelling the electrification trend in the Netherlands and across Europe, aligning with the ambitious climate targets set by the EU. To ensure its success, substantial investments in essential electrical infrastructure such as transformers, meters, batteries and electric vehicle chargers are imperative for our society. By investing in Kenter, building upon our previous venture with Groendus last year, we intensify our efforts. We are looking forward to working with the management teams and staff to establish a national champion in the energy transition sector the Netherlands and abroad.”
Alastair Hall, Senior Managing Director and Head of Europe, OMERS Infrastructure, said: “We’re thrilled to announce OMERS second investment to enable the energy transition in the Netherlands. We look forward to growing a B2B energy solutions platform in the region, delivering energy infrastructure for businesses looking to meet their sustainability goals.”
Erik van der Ende, CEO of Kenter, said: “I am delighted with the choice of ABP and OMERS Infrastructure. As an independent company, when it comes to the energy transition, we take care of all the needs of our existing and new customers by offering total solutions in the field of energy infrastructure. We operate in an extremely attractive growth market and this proposed sale makes it possible for Kenter to really take full advantage of our potential. We look forward to continuing to work on the energy transition together with our customers, employees, partners and new shareholders.”
APG and OMERS Infrastructure were advised by DC Advisory, Emendo Capital and Allen & Overy. The closing of the transaction is expected in Q4 2023, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
About OMERS Infrastructure
OMERS Infrastructure manages infrastructure investments globally on behalf of OMERS, the defined benefit pension plan for municipal employees in the Province of Ontario, Canada, and third-party investors through its Strategic Partnership Program. OMERS Infrastructure manages approximately C$34 billion, including capital invested on behalf of OMERS and third parties, in over 30 investments located in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific and across sectors including energy, digital services, transportation and government-regulated services. OMERS Infrastructure has employees in Toronto, New York, the U.K., Amsterdam, Asia and Australia.
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Hyper-Converged Infrastructure, Storage Management
prnewswire | August 10, 2023
Netrality Data Centers, the largest, privately held owner and operator of core interconnection facilities in the U.S., announced the addition of MOD Mission Critical, a global infrastructure Platform as a Service (PaaS) company and operator of PaaSPort™, an easy-to-use multi-facility, multicloud and multi-network ecosystem platform, to its 1301 Fannin data center in Houston, TX.
MOD Mission Critical's new deployment provides 1301 Fannin customers access to a global platform as a service network, MOD PaaSPort™, offering a full suite of managed colocation, bare metal, and connectivity solutions. PaaSPort™ provides customers with an easy-to-use interface to order multicloud, hybrid cloud, and private cloud connectivity solutions across the globe – along with the ability to order an array of services designed to enable multi-facility and multi-networking solution deployments. MOD can serve customers starting from a single rack unit with 10 Gbps of Dedicated Internet Access (DIA), providing a reliable option for companies seeking robust colocation and interconnection solutions.
"Partnering with providers like MOD Mission Critical, aligns perfectly with our commitment to provide our customers with a diverse array of high quality and comprehensive managed solutions," says Amber Caramella, Chief Revenue Officer at Netrality Data Centers. "We look forward to the collaborative opportunities ahead and the positive impact MOD Mission Critical's deployment will have on our customers' success."
"MOD's fractional service offerings combined with our PaaSPort™ platform reinforces Netrality's 1301 Fannin facility as a robust, globally accessible site, with a multitude of cloud, connectivity, and managed service offerings for nearly any company of any size," comments Michael Hollander, Chief Executive Officer at MOD Mission Critical.
The partnership with Netrality Data Centers signifies MOD Mission Critical's first data center partnership in the Houston metro. At 24 stories and approximately 1.1 million square feet, 1301 Fannin is one of Houston's most fiber-dense, network-neutral facilities and a central hub for data and internet traffic in the region. Its robust network infrastructure enables unparalleled interconnectivity, resiliency, and business continuity for carriers, service providers, and enterprise customers across the Houston area. In addition to its data center offering, the state-of-the-art mixed-use facility features custom IT, office, and retail space for lease.
About Netrality Data Centers
Netrality Data Centers owns and operates strategic interconnection data centers and Meet Me Rooms, providing a mix of colocation, powered shell, and wholesale data center solutions driven by fiber-dense, network-rich interconnection environments. Today, Netrality's eighteen properties span 3.3 million square feet and over 100 megawatts of capacity across North America.
Well-capitalized with a long-term investment from Macquarie Asset Management, Netrality is the largest privately held owner-operator of core interconnection facilities in the United States. Netrality acquires strategically located core interconnection data centers that provide best in market network resiliency, ensuring always-on connectivity for latency-sensitive and mission-critical businesses.
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DevOps
PRnewswire | July 05, 2023
Panduit Singapore releases SmartZone™ Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), delivering highly efficient and reliable power that provides protection and backup power for your computer IT equipment. SmartZone offers excellent electrical performance, intelligent battery management and long lifespan (lithium-ion units), enhanced intelligent monitoring, and network functions. Compliant with ENERGY STAR® 2.0, EMC, and safety standards, SmartZone UPS meets the continually growing power demands of data center, enterprise, and Edge IT equipment.
The rack-mounted SmartZone UPS portfolio focuses on high reliability, density, efficiency, and secure manageability, backed by an experienced global support team. This UPS range offers models with varying power ratings, configurations, and batteries to meet your specific needs. The offerings include 1-3 kVA line interactive and double conversion with lithium-ion battery, 1-3 kVA, 5-10 kVA, and 10/15/20 kVA double conversion with lead acid battery.
The SmartZone Intelligent UPS system interfaces with Panduit's SmartZone Cloud Next Generation DCIM solution to manage, monitor, and control power, environmental, security, connectivity, and IT assets. SmartZone Cloud collects and processes real-time data to closely oversee these channels and sends alerts for potential failures to reduce the risk of costly outages. To learn more about SmartZone Cloud Next Generation DCIM please visit https://pages.panduit.com/apac-smartzone-cloud.html.
Panduit also offers many SmartZone™ UPS accessories including external battery packs, battery cartridges, intelligent network management cards, environmental and security sensors, and a relay card.
"SmartZone UPS provides the global market with intelligent, reliable, and efficient infrastructure solutions for IT equipment and applications", says SmartZone UPS Product Manager Alan Burkel. "Panduit is excited to deliver this new offering of uninterruptible power supply hardware to an expanding industry with growing trends of distributed compute and enterprise data center modernization. It allows Panduit to be a one-stop-shop for customers interested in infrastructure solutions." The new Panduit SmartZone™ UPS product family rings in a new era of intelligent power.
About Panduit
Since 1955, Panduit's culture of curiosity and passion for problem-solving have enabled more meaningful connections between companies' business goals and their marketplace success. Panduit creates innovative electrical and network infrastructure solutions for enterprise-wide environments, from the data center to the telecom room, from the desktop to the plant floor. Headquartered in Tinley Park, IL, USA, and operating in112 global locations, Panduit's proven reputation for quality and technology leadership, coupled with a robust partner ecosystem, helps support, sustain, and empower business growth in a connected world.
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