Open Access Data Centres is set to acquire a portfolio of South African data‑centre assets from NTT DATA, according to a filing reviewed by the Competition Commission of South Africa. The transaction, advised by Verdant IMAP, includes seven facilities located in major South African hubs and forms part of the country’s expanding digital infrastructure.
Deal structure and strategic fit
The assets support enterprise, wholesale and cloud connectivity, and they are considered critical to the nation’s growing digital economy. WIOCC Group, the parent of Open Access Data Centres, will add the facilities to its existing pan‑African and international network, extending its carrier‑neutral footprint across the region.
Clients such as hyperscalers, content‑delivery networks, network operators, ISPs and large enterprises will gain access to scalable, resilient capacity in multiple markets. The filing notes that the acquisition strengthens the company’s ability to meet rising demand for neutral, carrier‑dense data‑centre services.
Advisory role and transaction complexity
Verdant IMAP acted as financial adviser to the buyer, steering a highly complex and negotiated process. The deal required coordination across financial, commercial, legal and operational workstreams over a prolonged period, reflecting the typical intricacy of large‑scale digital‑infrastructure transactions.
The advisory team resolved detailed commercial, legal and structural considerations, a task described in the filing as “a bit of a maze.” This was Verdant IMAP’s fourth completed transaction for WIOCC Group, highlighting its expanding advisory franchise in African digital infrastructure.
The firm operates within the global IMAP platform, which provides cross‑border perspective and international best practice to clients in telecoms, fintech and technology‑enabled sectors.
From a practical standpoint, the added capacity could lower latency for regional cloud services and give local businesses more options for data residency. Enterprises that previously relied on distant facilities may see cost savings and improved performance, while the broader market could benefit from increased competition among carriers.
Regulatory approval and market outlook
The Competition Commission of South Africa has approved the acquisition, signaling continued confidence in investment momentum across the continent’s digital infrastructure. Sustained growth in data consumption, cloud adoption and demand for carrier‑dense facilities underpins this optimism.
Analysts note that the transaction reflects a broader trend of investors targeting strategically located data‑centre hubs in Africa. As the continent’s digital economy expands, similar deals are likely to follow, further shaping the regional infrastructure environment.
The deal closes in 2024.
