This is the Tagline, edited under "Misc Content"
Feb 6, 2008
The acquisition comes as Equinix continues its expansion program in ten markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific in 2008. It also follows the 2007 acquisition of European colocation provider IXEurope, which solidified Equinix's market leading position and strengthened the company's comprehensive global offering for customers.
Founded in 1999, Virtu is a provider of network-neutral data center services in the Netherlands. The company's more than 400 enterprise, systems integrator and government customers include IBM, TUI/Thomson, Netherlands Department of Finance and Ten Cate. Virtu operates data centers in Enschede (1,200 net sq. m.) and Zwolle (500 net sq. m.), and it is currently building out a 3,000 net sq. m. center in Amsterdam that is expected to be open for customers in mid-2008. The Enschede center is approximately 40% utilized. The Zwolle center recently opened and will be at 80% occupancy once all signed contracts are fully installed. The company offers a range of colocation, interconnection and managed services that complement Equinix Europe's existing portfolio of products, as well as a seasoned team of professionals.
The Amsterdam site, which is currently under construction and was acquired by Virtu through a lease agreement, formerly served as a data center for ING Bank. Virtu is currently building out the center to create an infrastructure that is compatible with the increased power and cooling requirements of current data center equipment, such as high power density (HPD) deployments. Equinix will immediately be involved in the design and modernization of this site, bringing its world class expertise in next generation data center design.
“With our successful expansion into Europe last year, Equinix broadened its ability to provide customers with a comprehensive global data center and interconnection services platform across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific,” said Steve Smith, president and CEO of Equinix. “Amsterdam is an important location for our primary customer segments, including network service providers, digital content providers, financial services companies and enterprises, and we see significant demand from them as we extend our network-neutral operations to this market.”
“As an increasing number of multinational corporations are selecting the Netherlands as a base for serving the European market, the region has become a strategic market for premium data center and interconnection services,” said Guy Willner, president of Equinix Europe. “In addition, the presence of AMS-IX, the largest Internet exchange in Europe, makes Amsterdam an important hub for the networks serving the continent. We are thrilled to add Virtu's seasoned team and customer base in the Netherlands to Equinix.”
“We know Equinix well as a fellow IX service provider and professional neutral colocation provider in the U.S. and other European markets and, since the early days of the Internet, had a positive and professional working relationship,” said Job Witteman CEO of AMS-IX. “We particularly value that they understand our market and as a consequence look favorably upon Equinix coming to Amsterdam.” Witteman further noted that AMS-IX is planning to further expand in the first half of this year adding another professional and network neutral data-center in the city and is in positive discussions with Equinix regarding their new Amsterdam location.
Equinix intends to invest a total of $48 million for the acquisition of Virtu, the anticipated capital expenditures associated with the build-out of the Amsterdam site and the assumption of debt. This transaction is not expected to negatively impact Equinix's previously announced 2008 revenue and EBITDA guidance. The company will provide further detail on this transaction on its Q4 results conference call on February 13, 2008.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix services; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of IXEurope into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenue from customers in recently built out data centers; failure to complete any financing arrangements contemplated from time to time; competition from existing and new competitors; the ability to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to repay new or outstanding indebtedness; the loss or decline in business from our key customers; the results of any litigation relating to past stock option grants and practices; and other risks described from time to time in Equinix's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see Equinix's recent quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are available upon request from Equinix. Equinix does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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