Acting as asset manager, Westend Real Assets has acquired two colocation data centres in Hamburg. The transaction was structured as an asset deal for the portfolio of the special AIF 'HAL Digitale Infrastruktur Deutschland 1'. The acquisition comprises the 'Leuchtturm' property in Hamburg's Alsterdorf district, built in 2013, as well as the 'Rahlstedt' data centre in the district of the same name, completed in 2024.
Both properties are fully operational and are run by IT service provider and data centre operator akquinet. Tenants at the sites include companies from the municipal services sector. The Hamburg-Alsterdorf facility was the first colocation data centre nationwide to be awarded the 'Blue Angel' eco-label (DE-UZ 214) by the German Environment Agency. Both locations have functional reserves allowing for future expansion of IT capacity.
Expansion of the special fund to over 200 million euros
With the addition of the two Hamburg properties, Westend Real Assets expands the portfolio of the specialised investment fund to three existing assets. Following the latest acquisition, the fund volume stands at more than 200 million euros. The special AIF 'HAL Digitale Infrastruktur Deutschland 1' is designed as the first investment vehicle of its kind in Germany to offer institutional investors targeted investments in modern colocation data centres. The investment focus is on established assets let on long-term leases that also offer potential for technical and energy-efficiency upgrades.
Patrick Brinker, Chief Executive Officer of Westend Real Assets, underlines the strategic importance of regional data infrastructure. He noted that regional colocation data centres form a core pillar of digital sovereignty, as both corporations and public authorities increasingly seek to store their data domestically with German operators. With the Alsterdorf and Rahlstedt sites, the fund secures two assets secured under long-term commitments that are already grid-connected and offer further scope for expansion.
Demand for predictable cash flows and local data sovereignty
Lars Kurtz, Head of Institutional Sales at Westend Real Assets, explained that demand for regional data centre infrastructure confirms the fund's strategic focus. Organisations with stringent data protection requirements in particular need solutions that ensure internal control and independence from international cloud providers. In addition, institutional investors in the current market environment are seeking predictable cash flows that deliver excess returns compared to liquid asset classes. The acquisition of the two Hamburg properties serves the targeted implementation of this fund strategy.
- —Acquisition of the colocation data centres 'Leuchtturm' (2013) and 'Rahlstedt' (2024) via asset deal
- —Full operation and leasing via IT service provider akquinet
- —Sustainability certification 'Blue Angel' (DE-UZ 214) for the Alsterdorf site
- —Fund volume increases to over 200 million euros across three assets in the special AIF
