이 기사는 2020년 04월 22일 08시00분 thebell에 표출된 기사입니다

Macquarie Asia Infrastructure Fund 2 (MAIF2), a Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA)-managed infrastructure fund, has acquired hyperscale data center platform AirTrunk.

MIRA has acquired an 88 percent stake in AirTrunk at a two trillion won valuation from previous equity holders Goldman Sachs, Sixth Street Partners and founder Robin Khuda through its four trillion won fund MAIF2, according to investment banking (IB) industry sources on April 17. South Korea’s largest pension fund National Pension Service (NPS) has reportedly invested in MAIF2.

MAIF2 is the fund which took over South Korea’s leading gas supplier Daesung Industrial Gases from MBK Partners. Previously Macquarie intended to use MAIF2 when it attempted to acquire industrial gas company Linde Korea. Thanks to the latest purchase, Macquarie has added AirTrunk as its portfolio company in MAIF2 after completing its acquisition of Daesung Industrial Gases in February.

AirTrunk is a hyperscale data center platform for large cloud, content and enterprise customers across the Asia-Pacific (APAC). Since the 2017 launch of its first hyperscale data center in Western Sydney, AirTrunk has rapidly grown into a leading regional platform with facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and Hong Kong, and a well-developed expansion plan in other markets. AirTrunk’s five data centers, once fully developed, will be able to deliver a combined capacity of more than 450 megawatts.

Macquarie seems to have attracted to AirTrunk’s profitability and grow potential as it provides hyperscale data centers amid an exponential increase in data consumption.

What is notable in the latest deal is AirTrunk founder Khuda will continue to hold a material stake in the business and will remain in his role as CEO under a long-term arrangement, supported by the existing executive management team.

MIRA has extensive experience in developing digital infrastructure assets and assisting management to operate them, with investments in data centers, fiber assets and telecommunication tower businesses across Europe, North America, and APAC. MAIF2 closed at approximately four trillion won in April 2018. The fund completed investments in Daesung Industrial Gases, AirTrunk, toll roads in India and the Philippines’ largest geothermal developer.

(By reporter Kim Hye-ran)