SC Capital Partners is in early-stage discussions to acquire data centre operator Global Switch in a deal that could be valued between $4bn and $5bn, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The Singapore-based private investment manager, backed by CapitaLand Investment, is currently the sole bidder and is working with advisers on the potential transaction.

Headquartered in London, Global Switch is majority-owned by China’s Jiangsu Shagang Group and operates carrier-neutral data centres across Europe and Asia-Pacific. The business has been intermittently up for sale since 2022, when shareholders expressed interest in exploring a full or partial exit. A previous attempt to sell the company to EQT in 2023 collapsed, despite final bids reportedly valuing the firm at around $8bn including debt.

The potential acquisition marks a renewed chapter in Global Switch’s ownership amid growing global investment in digital infrastructure. The sector continues to attract strong private capital inflows, supported by secular growth trends in artificial intelligence, cloud services, and enterprise digitalisation.

Founded in 2004, SC Capital manages approximately $6bn in assets across opportunistic real estate, core-plus, and infrastructure strategies. In November 2024, CapitaLand Investment acquired a 40% stake in the firm for $208m, with options to take full control within five years.

This latest move follows the January 2025 sale of Global Switch’s Australian operations to HMC Capital for AUD1.94bn, driven by data sovereignty concerns and regulatory divestment pressures.

While no deal has been finalised and the outcome remains contingent on market conditions, SC Capital’s pursuit of Global Switch signals growing momentum for large-scale data infrastructure transactions in the private equity space.

Source: Reuters