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Starwood Capital Group Unveils Strategic Investment in Echelon Data Centres

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Approximately $850 Million Investment to Provide the Company with Significant Capital to Aid in its Continued Expansion

MIAMI, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Starwood Capital Group (“Starwood Capital” or “the Firm”), a leading global private investment firm focused on real estate, today announced that a controlled affiliate had made a strategic investment in Echelon Data Centres (“Echelon” or “the Company”).  

Echelon was founded in 2016 and has grown to become one of the leading data centre developers in Ireland and the United Kingdom, providing large-scale facilities to support the growing global demand for data and computing resources – sustainably, responsibly and with due regard for the environment. Echelon currently has 140MW of capacity that is either operational or in late-stage construction, including a fully pre-committed 91.4MW hyperscale campus in Dublin. In addition, the company has a strategic landbank in excess of 500MW, of which 168MW is in advanced stages of agreement with occupiers and expected to commence construction in H1 2024.  

The transaction will see Starwood Capital commit approximately $850 million through Starwood Opportunity Fund XII and Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, Inc, becoming a 50% shareholder in Echelon and providing material capital for its continued growth. The investment values the Company at approximately €2.5bn Enterprise Value. The Company’s capitalisation is further primed for growth through a new €900m debt facility provided by Morgan Stanley and United Overseas Bank (“UOB”).

Over the past five years, Starwood Capital has built a significant global data centre business committing approximately $8 billion of capital across 1.5 gigawatts of capacity in various stages of development, making it one of the largest privately held data centre developers in the United States and Europe. The firm recently launched Starwood Digital Ventures to oversee its data centre investment strategy and activities globally.

Lorcain Egan, Co-Head, Europe, Starwood Capital Group, commented: “Starwood Capital is delighted to announce this investment in Echelon. It is a testament to the business the Echelon team has built since 2016 to establish a leading European data centre platform. Echelon has been delivering critical infrastructure to support the growth of some of the world’s most dynamic technology companies and we look forward to continuing to partner with them in that mission. For Starwood Capital, this significant and strategic investment continues our long-term focus and capital deployment into a core sector for our European business.”  

David Smith, Managing Director and Head of Data Centres, Europe at Starwood Capital, added: “We are incredibly excited to continue our long-standing relationship with the Echelon team and to support the accelerated growth of its business. This investment builds on our expertise and track record in the sector, including our recent launch of Starwood Digital Ventures, a platform dedicated to our growing global data centre investment strategy.”

“Data centres have been a core thematic for us in the United States and Europe over the last five years and we are delighted to grow our portfolio in a key sector with strong tailwinds. This transaction materially enhances our data centre footprint and capabilities in Europe. We are confident that with the Echelon team and Starwood Digital Ventures we will continue to find further opportunities to deploy capital into transactions with attractive risk adjusted returns for our investors, both in Europe and the United States, where we have an additional 600MW of projects in our pipeline, bringing our total global platform to ~1.5GW,” said Barry Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital.

Niall Molloy, CEO & and Founder of Echelon Data Centres, said: “We are very pleased to enter into this transaction with our long-standing partner, Starwood Capital. Starwood Capital’s scale, access to capital and track record position Echelon incredibly well to service our customers’ growth requirements on a global basis. We look forward to the continued growth of the business and expansion into new European markets and beyond.”

Trevor Whelan, CIO of Echelon Data Centres, said: “Today’s announcement is a huge milestone for the Echelon team on the journey to establishing a global data centre platform centred around large-scale campuses, and vertical integration with power generation. It is also a milestone day for Starwood Digital Ventures, and we are excited to be one of the foundation blocks as they rapidly grow their Digital Infrastructure business.”

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Deutsche Bank acted as lead financial advisor and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor for Starwood Capital, while Kirkland & Ellis and Arthur Cox acted as legal counsel.

Eastdil Secured acted as lead financial advisor and Nomura acted as financial advisor for Echelon Data Centres, and William Fry acted as legal counsel.

Morgan Stanley and UOB acted as Mandated Lead Arrangers on the financing. Allen & Overy, Arthur Cox and A&L Goodbody acted for Echelon Data Centres on the financing and due diligence.

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a core focus on global real estate. The Firm and its affiliates maintain 16 offices in seven countries around the world, and currently have 5,000+ employees. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital Group has raised over $75 billion of capital, and currently has ~$115 billion of assets under management. Through a series of comingled opportunity funds and Starwood Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (SREIT), a non-listed REIT, the Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving. Starwood Capital also manages Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), the largest commercial mortgage real estate investment trust in the United States, which has successfully deployed over $95 billion of capital since inception and manages a portfolio of over $27 billion across debt and equity investments. Over the past 32 years, Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that involves building enterprises in both the private and public markets. Additional information can be found at www.starwoodcapital.com.

About Echelon Data Centres

 Echelon Data Centres is an international data centre infrastructure developer providing large-scale assets to support the growing global demand for data and computing resource – sustainably, responsibly and with due regard for the environment. The company currently has four Irish sites under development, with a combined potential capacity of more than 500MW (DUB10 – Clondalkin; DUB40 – Grange Castle; DUB20 and DUB30 – Arklow, Co Wicklow). Echelon’s portfolio also includes a fully-let and operational 20MW data centre facility (LCY10) in London’s Docklands (UK), and are under construction at LCY20, a 30MW data centre in Chesham, Buckinghamshire (UK).

Media Contacts

For Starwood Capital Group
Tom Johnson or Emma Prenn-Vasilakis, H/Advisors Abernathy
[email protected] or [email protected]

For Echelon Data Centres:

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Echelon Image Resources are available here: 

https://echelon-dc.com/media-resources/

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YunoJuno Recognised as Best International Contractor Provider, Revolutionising Global Freelance Management

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LONDON, Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — YunoJuno, the innovative platform transforming how businesses compliantly source, manage and pay a global contractor workforce, has been awarded the prestigious title of Best International Contractor Provider at the annual Contracting Awards in London, solidifying its position as a global leader in contractor workforce management solutions.

The award comes at a critical time when businesses are increasingly relying on flexible, global talent to drive innovation and maintain competitive advantage. YunoJuno’s comprehensive platform has distinguished itself by offering a seamless, end-to-end solution that simplifies the complex processes of finding, hiring, managing, and paying contractors across international borders.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to revolutionising how companies connect with contractor talent worldwide,” said Runar Reistrup, CEO of YunoJuno. “Our commitment to providing a seamless, compliant, global hiring experience that helps businesses deliver quality and agility beyond geographical boundaries has been key to this achievement.”

YunoJuno platform’s core solutions include:

– All-in-one Freelancer Management System (FMS) to source, onboard, manage and pay a global workforce
– Unrivalled Global Talent Marketplace: Access to on-demand skills from a diverse pool of pre-vetted, high-quality freelance professionals
– Integrated Global Payment Solutions: Simplified international payments with support for multiple currencies
– Built-in Global Compliance and Risk Management: Robust systems ensuring legal and financial compliance across different international jurisdictions

Driven by the mission to unlock the true potential of flexible talent, YunoJuno has emerged as a pivotal player in the contractor management ecosystem, aligning HR, Talent, Procurement and Finance teams. The platform serves a wide range of industries, from technology and creative sectors to consulting and digital marketing, enabling companies of all sizes to build flexible, future-fit, high-performance teams.

“Winning this award is not just a milestone for YunoJuno, but a testament to the evolving nature of the future of work,” added Joao Martires, Chief Operating Officer at YunoJuno leading global expansion. “We’re witnessing a global shift towards more flexible, skills-focused, project-based employment and our platform is at the forefront of this transformation.”

The award highlights YunoJuno’s significant achievements in addressing the growing challenges of international freelance workforce management. With businesses increasingly adopting remote and hybrid work models, platforms like YunoJuno are becoming essential tools for organisations looking to boost their competitive advantage and respond with agility to changing economic conditions.

The platform’s success is backed by its ability to solve critical pain points for both businesses and freelancers. Companies gain access to global talent without the administrative complexities and risk, while freelancers benefit from a transparent, fair, and efficient marketplace.

Looking forward, YunoJuno plans to continue investing in human-led technological innovations, expanding its global talent network, and enhancing its platform’s capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the modern workforce.

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For media inquiries or further information about YunoJuno’s award, 
please contact:
Katey-Rose Gregory
Content Marketing Lead at YunoJuno
[email protected]

About YunoJuno: 
YunoJuno is the all-in-one solution to find, hire, manage and pay contractors and freelancers globally. Built as a Freelancer Management System with direct sourcing included and plug-in options, YunoJuno takes the work and risk out of working with contractors.

Combining a Freelance Management System with an elite marketplace of 100,000+ industry vetted contractors and an on-hand delivery team, YunoJuno helps reduce costs, hiring times and protect against misclassification. With integrated tools and automation, businesses can now accurately classify workers quickly, compliantly and on a global scale. 

www.yunojuno.com 

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Mergermarket unveils 2024 European M&A Awards winners

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LONDON, Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Mergermarket, an ION Analytics service, hosted the 2024 European M&A Awards on 27 November in London, celebrating excellence in the mergers and acquisitions landscape. This year’s event featured 147 firms shortlisted across 49 categories, showcasing the region’s exceptional talent.

The awards recognize standout advisory achievements on complex deals — with entries evaluated using Mergermarket’s industry-leading data to highlight excellence across the investment arena. With only one winner per category and categories spanning multiple deal sizes — from small-cap to large-cap private equity — these awards set industry benchmarks that inspire confidence in the sector.

The event was attended by 250 senior leaders representing firms across finance, law, and advisory services. This year’s awards highlight Europe’s resilient M&A market and celebrate landmark transactions, providing insight into how leading firms are adapting to economic challenges.

John West, Head of Europe, Mergermarket, said, “The awards showcase the true grit of the European M&A community in driving growth amid the shifting sands of the financing and regulatory environment. European M&A year-to-date stands at EUR 665 billion, up 21% since 2023. Key drivers have been the UK, where total deal values are up 72%, and private equity buyouts and exits rose 30%. With big money on the table for landmark deals such as FiberCop, Adevinta, Darktrace, Royal Mail owner IDS, and many more, it’s clear the European M&A investment banking, advisory, legal, and private equity industries have been on the front foot to deliver for clients and investors.”

The winners are:

Legal adviser:                                                                      Financial adviser:

European M&A

Freshfields

European M&A

Goldman Sachs

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European Mid-Market M&A

Latham & Watkins

European Mid-Market M&A

Rothschild & Co

European Private Equity

Kirkland & Ellis

European Private Equity

Goldman Sachs

Austria

Schoenherr

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Austria

Deloitte

Baltics

Ellex

Baltics

Superia

Benelux

Linklaters

Benelux

Morgan Stanley

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CEE

CMS

CEE

Goldman Sachs

Denmark

Gorrissen Federspiel

Denmark

Citi

Finland

Krogerus

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Finland

Carnegie

France

Weil, Gotshal & Manges

France

BNP Paribas

Germany

CMS

Germany

Morgan Stanley

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Ireland

Arthur Cox

Ireland

Rothschild & Co

Israel

Goldfarb Gross Seligman

Israel

Bank of America

Italy

Gianni & Origoni

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Italy

Mediobanca

MENA

Freshfields

MENA

Rothschild & Co

Norway

Wiersholm

Norway

ABG Sundal Collier

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Iberia

Garrigues

Iberia

Deloitte

Sweden

Vinge

Sweden

Carnegie

Switzerland

Baer & Karrer

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Switzerland

UBS

Turkey

Ozmen Yalcin

Turkey

UNLU & Co

United Kingdom

Latham & Watkins

United Kingdom

JP Morgan

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Accountancy

Due Diligence Firm             

EY             

Tax Advisory Firm

EY

 

Private Equity

European Large-Cap (entry value range $500 million+)

Permira

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European Upper Mid-Market (entry value range $250-500 million)

Ardian

European Lower Mid-Market (entry value range $50-250 million)

Eurazeo

European Small-Cap (entry value range $0-50 million)

BGF

 

          Deal of the year               

Adevinta (Blackstone and Permira)

About ION

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ION provides mission-critical trading and workflow automation software, high-value analytics and insights, and strategic consulting to financial institutions, central banks, governments, and corporate organizations. Our solutions and services simplify complex processes, boost efficiency, and enable better decision-making. We build long-term partnerships with our clients, helping transform their businesses for sustained success through continuous innovation. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/

About ION Analytics

ION Analytics delivers personalized, targeted data and market intelligence to banks, investors, and corporates, helping clients find opportunities and drive better decisions in markets ranging from equities and fixed income to infrastructure and private equity. For more information, visit https://iongroup.com/analytics/

About Mergermarket

Mergermarket is the premier global proprietary M&A intelligence, data, and predictive analytics provider. With access to coverage of 1.4 million companies, almost 3,000 sponsors, and powered by 300 journalists and analysts globally, we bring transformative M&A insight and a competitive edge to capital markets professionals, shaping the future of M&A. For more information, visit https://info.mergermarket.com/

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners.

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International Schools Partnership Deploys Workday to Empower Educators and Drive Global Growth

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Leading Global Schools Network Streamlines HR Processes Across 24 Countries (and Counting)

LONDON, Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Workday Inc. (NASDAQ: WDAY), a leading provider of solutions to help organisations manage their people and money, today announced International Schools Partnership has gone live on Workday Human Capital Management (HCM) to empower its 12,000+ person workforce across 92 schools and 24 countries.

International Schools Partnership (ISP), a leading global network of schools committed to providing a transformative education, is prioritising its human resources strategy with a focus on attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional educators and staff. Recognising that dedicated and passionate teachers are the cornerstone of a high-quality education, ISP is investing in initiatives that support professional growth, foster a collaborative work environment, and champion the well-being of its team. Workday will help enable ISP to achieve a seamless employee experience and connected people function, in turn creating vibrant learning communities where students thrive and employees excel.

“At ISP, we know that investing in our people is investing in the future of education.” said Jo Pertwee, Group Head of People Operations, International Schools Partnership. “Workday will help us to both unify our HR processes and create a seamless and supportive employee experience, enabling our educators to focus on what they do best: inspiring students and fostering a love of learning. This is just the start of our journey with Workday and we’re excited at what the future holds.”

World Class Workforce: Empowered Teachers Inspire Students
Workday HCM will empower ISP with a unified view of its global workforce, enabling data-driven decision-making and streamlined HR processes for greater operational efficiency. By standardising core HR processes, Workday will help ISP focus on attracting, developing, and retaining top educators. Leveraging solutions such as Workday Talent Optimisation, ISP will provide growth and development opportunities, reduce attrition, and boost engagement, fostering a collaborative environment where teachers feel supported and empowered to make an impact.

Good to Grow: Expanding the ISP Global Footprint
Workday’s scalability will help enable ISP’s global expansion, helping ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience for all employees regardless of location. As the organisation adds new schools and employees, Workday will adapt to meet the unique needs of each region, including diverse compliance regulations and reporting requirements. This flexibility will empower ISP leaders to effectively manage its growing global workforce.

“Our solutions are purpose-built to help organisations like ISP navigate the complexities of managing a global workforce while maintaining a culture of learning and innovation,” said Daniel Pell, CEO, UKI, Workday. “Workday will provide ISP with the insights and agility they need to achieve their ambitious growth plans and continue delivering exceptional educational experiences.”

About Workday
Workday is a leading enterprise platform that helps organisations manage their most important assets – their people and money. The Workday platform is built with AI at the core to help customers elevate people, supercharge work, and move their business forever forward. Workday is used by more than 10,500 organisations around the world and across industries – from medium-sized businesses to more than 60% of the Fortune 500. For more information about Workday, visit workday.com.

© 2024 Workday, Inc. All rights reserved. Workday and the Workday logo are registered trademarks of Workday, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding Workday’s plans, beliefs, and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based only on currently available information and our current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. If the risks materialise, assumptions prove incorrect, or we experience unexpected changes in circumstances, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements, and therefore you should not rely on any forward-looking statements. Risks include, but are not limited to, risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our most recent report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K and other reports that we have filed and will file with the SEC from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Workday assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Any unreleased services, features, or functions referenced in this document, our website, or other press releases or public statements that are not currently available are subject to change at Workday’s discretion and may not be delivered as planned or at all. Customers who purchase Workday services should make their purchase decisions based upon services, features, and functions that are currently available.

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