Equinix to Extend its Digital Infrastructure Platform to the Philippines with Acquisition of Three Data Centers

Rhea-AI Summary

Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) has announced its planned entry into the Philippines with the acquisition of three data centers from Total Information Management (TIM). This strategic move aims to expand Equinix's digital infrastructure platform and capitalize on the fast-growing Southeast Asian market. The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately 15x projected EBITDA at full utilization, is expected to close in 2H 2024.

The acquisition will provide Equinix with capacity to address digital needs of businesses in the Philippines, offering access to Platform Equinix® for secure data exchange within a global ecosystem. The Philippines' digital economy is projected to reach $35 billion by 2025, growing at a 20% CAGR. This expansion aligns with Equinix's vision to extend its leadership in the Asia-Pacific region and accelerate digital economy growth.

Positive

• Acquisition of three high-performance data centers in the Philippines
• Entry into a rapidly expanding digital economy with 20% CAGR
• Access to a market projected to reach $35 billion by 2025
• Expansion of Equinix's global footprint and ecosystem
• Potential for further expansion with acquired land

Negative

• High acquisition cost at 15x projected EBITDA
• Potential integration challenges in a new market
• Regulatory risks associated with entering a new country

Financial Analyst

Financial Impact: The acquisition of three data centers in the Philippines is a strategic move for Equinix, considering the digital economy in Southeast Asia is on a growth trajectory. The all-cash transaction at a multiple of 15x projected EBITDA suggests a confident investment, reflecting high growth potential. The EBITDA multiple is a significant indicator as it shows the valuation relative to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. This figure is essential for investors as it highlights the expected profitability and operational efficiency once the data centers are fully utilized. Furthermore, the anticipated closure of the deal in 2H 2024 aligns with Equinix's expansion timeline, demonstrating their robust execution strategy. For stakeholders, this news might indicate a favorable impact on share value, given the region's high demand for digital infrastructure and the company's ambitious expansion plans.

Market Research Analyst

Market Expansion: Entering the Philippines market is a smart strategic move for Equinix, given the country's growing digital economy, projected to reach $35 billion by 2025. The acquisition enables Equinix to tap into a market with a 20% CAGR, underscoring substantial growth opportunities. This move not only diversifies its market presence but also consolidates its role as a major player in Southeast Asia's digital infrastructure landscape. The integration of TIM's existing customer base with Equinix’s vast global network can provide significant cross-selling and upselling opportunities, enhancing revenue streams. For long-term investors, this expansion could signify a steady increase in market share and competitive advantage in a rapidly digitizing region.

Tech Expert

Technological Synergy: The acquisition of high-performance data centers is a technological boon for Equinix, allowing it to bolster its capabilities in a critical and growing market. The integration with Equinix’s Platform Equinix® can offer enhanced connectivity and scalability to both local and global clients. This is important as businesses increasingly seek secure and efficient data exchange solutions. Equinix’s existing technological infrastructure and expertise will undoubtedly enhance the performance and reliability of the acquired data centers, potentially driving innovation and customer satisfaction. For tech-driven investors, this represents not just an expansion, but a significant upgrade in technological assets that could usher in advanced services such as AI and cloud solutions.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and MANILA, The Philippines, July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Equinix, Inc. (Nasdaq: EQIX), the world's digital infrastructure company^®, today announced its planned entry into the Philippines with the acquisition of three data centers from Total Information Management ("TIM"), a leading technology solutions provider. Following the recently announced expansions in Malaysia and Indonesia, this strategic move aims to help businesses expand and capitalize on the digital opportunity of the fast-growing Southeast Asia region. The all-cash transaction represents a multiple of approximately 15x the projected EBITDA at full utilization and is expected to close in 2H 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

The acquisition of the three high-performance data centers will provide capacity for Equinix to address the digital needs of local and overseas businesses in the Philippines. Enterprises, cloud and IT service providers, and network service providers around the world can leverage Platform Equinix^® to interconnect and exchange data privately and securely within a vibrant ecosystem of business partners and customers. Existing customers of TIM, including network and financial services companies, will also gain access to Equinix's global ecosystems of more than 10,000 companies, including more than 2,000 networks and 3,000 cloud and IT service providers.

Southeast Asia's digital economy grew to $218 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2023.¹ In particular, the Philippines' digital economy is expected to continue its upward climb toward $35 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%.² The country is also seeing a surge in demand for digital infrastructure services, driven by a highly engaged digital population,  booming e-commerce adoption and various government initiatives to promote digitization, such as the E-Government Masterplan 2022 and the Digi-Ed 2028 program.

Jeremy Deutsch, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix said: "We are thrilled to announce our expansion into the Philippines, a vibrant and rapidly expanding digital economy that presents immense opportunities for our valued customers and partners. This strategic acquisition, combined with our recent expansions in Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the awarded data center capacity in Singapore, will greatly enhance our footprint in the region. This expanded digital infrastructure will also enable our customers to thrive and embrace digital transformation, harnessing the potential of emerging technologies like private AI. This acquisition perfectly aligns with our vision to extend our leadership in the Asia-Pacific region, while driving the acceleration of the digital economy."

Jose Mari M. Antunez, Chairman, Total Information Management commented: "Equinix's strong reputation and expertise in the industry make them the ideal partner to take our data center business to new heights. While TIM will continue to remain as a system integrator, helping our customers through their digital transformation strategies, this deal will bring immense benefits to our customers. Equinix's global platform and extensive network will provide enhanced connectivity, scalability and access to a thriving ecosystem of partners. We are confident that Equinix's commitment to excellence and customer-centric approach will ensure a seamless transition and deliver unparalleled value to our customers."

Highlights / Key Facts

• The three carrier-neutral and interconnection-rich data centers include more than 1,000 cabinets of capacity and land for further expansion. These data centers will support the digital transformation of local and global customers looking to expand into the Philippines.
• As part of Equinix's ambitious investment plans in the Asia-Pacific region, the company will expand in new markets including Jakarta, Indonesia (JK1) and Chennai, India (CN1) later this year. With the capacity allocation by the government, Equinix will also expand its footprint in Singapore. These expansions will reinforce Equinix's leadership in the region and support the digital transformation of customers expanding into new markets.
• Today, the global footprint of Platform Equinix spans 260 data centers across 71 metros and 33 countries. In Asia-Pacific, Equinix currently operates 56 data centers in 14 key metros across Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, including the recently opened data centers in Johor (JH1) and Kuala Lumpur (KL1) in Malaysia.

Additional Resources

• Equinix's Dual Metro Data Centers Propel Malaysia's Digital Economy Ambition to New Heights [Press Release]
• Equinix Expands to Indonesia with $74M Data Center Investment [Press Release]
• Equinix and Astra Form a Joint Venture to Support Indonesia's Growing Digital Needs [Press release]

About Equinix
Equinix (Nasdaq: EQIX) is the world's digital infrastructure company^®. Digital leaders harness Equinix's trusted platform to bring together and interconnect foundational infrastructure at software speed. Equinix enables organizations to access all the right places, partners and possibilities to scale with agility, speed the launch of digital services, deliver world-class experiences and multiply their value, while supporting their sustainability goals.

Forward Looking Statements
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, risks to our business and operating results related to the current inflationary environment; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; stock price fluctuations; increased costs to procure power and the general volatility in the global energy market; the challenges of acquiring, operating and constructing IBX^® and xScale^® data centers and developing, deploying and delivering Equinix products and solutions; unanticipated costs or difficulties relating to the integration of companies we have acquired or will acquire into Equinix; a failure to receive significant revenues from customers in recently built out or acquired 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; risks related to our taxation as a REIT; risks related to regulatory inquiries or litigation and other risks described from time to time in Equinix filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular, see recent and upcoming Equinix 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.

1 Florian Hoppe, et al., "e-Conomy SEA 2023," Bain & Company, Nov. 1, 2023.
2 "Country Spotlight: Philippines," Google e-Conomy SEA 2023, Google, 2023.

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SOURCE Equinix, Inc.

FAQ

What is the value of Equinix's (EQIX) acquisition in the Philippines?

The acquisition is an all-cash transaction valued at approximately 15 times the projected EBITDA at full utilization of the three data centers.

When is Equinix (EQIX) expected to close the acquisition of Philippine data centers?

The acquisition is expected to close in the second half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

How many data centers is Equinix (EQIX) acquiring in the Philippines?

Equinix is acquiring three high-performance data centers from Total Information Management (TIM) in the Philippines.

What is the projected growth rate of the Philippines' digital economy according to Equinix (EQIX)?

The Philippines' digital economy is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%, reaching $35 billion by 2025.