Natixis announced it acted as Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner for the $775 million financing of a portion of the acquisition of a majority stake in Ascenty LLC by Digital Realty. Ascenty is one of Latin America’s largest data center providers with 14 data centers in operation and / or under construction. This transaction is expected to be one of the world’s largest data center acquisitions in 2018, and to establish Digital Realty as the leading data center provider in Latin America.

Digital Realty is a leading US-based public data center REIT, and one of the largest data center operators globally. The transaction is valued at approximately $1.8 billion and funded by a combination of equity and US$775 million in senior secured facilities.

“In 2018, Natixis financed two of Latin America’s largest communications infrastructure transactions, validating our client-centric approach and our ability to provide creative financing solutions to a rapidly evolving sector. We look forward to growing our Telecom presence in Latin America,” said Santhosh Rao, Head of Telecoms, Americas.   

The financing provided for Ascenty marks Natixis’ fifteenth infrastructure debt transaction in Latin America over the past two years, including transactions in Mexico, Chile, Peru and Brazil. “The Ascenty acquisition financing furthers Natixis’ track record of delivering innovative, high-quality financing solutions to the Latin American market. Our infrastructure approach was effective in maximizing bank market appetite for the transaction despite a volatile financing market and the Brazilian general elections in October,” said Aitor Alava, Managing Director, Head of Infrastructure Finance, Latin America.

Latin America is a key region in Natixis’ international expansion strategy, supporting clients in their global growth. Natixis has been active in Brazil for over 40 years. In the last three years, Natixis has structured and arranged more than 25 transactions in Latin America, having received the Latin American Mandated Lead Arranger of the Year award for 2017 from Power Finance and Risk, 2018 Best Infrastructure Bank: Mexico from LatinFinance and Project Finance International 2018 Bank of the Year Americas.