A Real Estate Affair To Remember: Does Equinix Shameless Flirtation With Telecity Foreshadow Breakup For InterXion?

Telecity Group is a European data center provider "operating highly connected facilities in key cities."

Telecity continued, describing the company, "These data centres are the places in which separate networks that make up the internet meet and where bandwidth-intensive applications, content and information are hosted."

Related Link: Equinix Confirms Preliminary Talks With Board of Telecity Group Regarding Potential Offer

Tale Of The Tape: May 7

This strategic move by Equinix may trip up that pending combination, in a move to block Digital Realty Trust, Inc. DLR from acquiring Telecity's European network in order to compete in the future with the Equinix IBX Data Center network.

Deal Not Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Telecity had previously confirmed a "definitive agreement" on March 9 to acquire the shares of Netherlands-based InterXion Holding NV INXN in an all-stock merger deal. Interxion currently operates 39 carrier neutral colocation data centers in 11 European countries.

However, according to the March publication, "The implementation agreement may be terminated in certain circumstances, including:

• The board of either TelecityGroup or Interxion changes its recommendation of the merger
• Any condition becomes incapable of satisfaction and (if capable of waiver) is not waived
• The shareholders of TelecityGroup do not approve the merger
• Either TelecityGroup or Interxion suffers a material adverse event
• Either TelecityGroup or Interxion materially breaches the terms of the implementation agreement
• A superior competing proposal for TelecityGroup is recommended by the TelecityGroup board or a superior competing proposal for Interxion is recommended by the Interxion board."

If the merger doesn't go through, under certain circumstances, Telecity would owe Interxion a break-up fee equivalent to just under $23 million.

In response, Interxion issued a statement on May 7, which stated, "Interxion continues to believe that the pending Merger with TelecityGroup is a strategically compelling combination that delivers meaningful value to Interxion and TelecityGroup shareholders as well as their customers.

"Pursuant to the terms of the Implementation Agreement, TelecityGroup's entrance into discussions with Equinix releases Interxion from its exclusivity obligations with TelecityGroup during the pendency of the discussions."

Equinix Global IBX Network

Although EMEA only represents 25 percent of revenues, the "network effect" makes it difficult to understand the value those assets add to the Americas and Asia/Pacific.

Digital Realty

Digital Realty has historically operated in the wholesale data center segment, not so much in colocation and cloud offerings.

However, $8.7 billion cap Digital Realty's global scale, with 130 data center locations and $8.7 billion market cap, could make Digital Realty a potential future threat, which $14.7 billion cap Equinix is attempting to mitigate by acquiring Telecity.

Related Link: Digital Realty - Rackpace Partnership Sprouts Innovative Green Data Center

Investor Takeaway

Digital Realty has been engaged in a block and tackle effort spearheaded by long-time CFO and recent CEO Bill Stein to rationalize the Digital Realty footprint, lease existing space and focus on improving ROIC.

However, Digital has also invested during the past few quarters in linking its data centers to create a network.

Recent management moves and new hires signal a renewed focus on colocation customers and partnerships with vendors to increase the breadth of customer offerings.