TelecityGroup

Telecity Group plc was the result of the uniting of three separate companies – TeleCity Limited, Redbus Interhouse Limited and Globix Holdings (UK) Limited. TeleCity Limited was founded by Mike Kelly and Anish Kapoor from Manchester University in April 1998 and opened its first data centre in Manchester. At that time 3i Group made an investment of £24 million in the Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.3i.com/news/corporate-news/3i-divests-stake-telecity-group|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618103649/http://3i.com/news/corporate-news/3i-divests-stake-telecity-group|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2013|title=3i divests stake in Telecity Group|date=11 February 2010|access-date=3 April 2015}}

In July 1998, Redbus Interhouse Limited was incorporated, and commenced operations in its first data centre in London Docklands in July 1999. By March 2000, Redbus Interhouse Limited floated on the main market of the London Stock Exchange and in June 2000, TeleCity Limited’s parent company, TeleCity plc floated on the London Stock Exchange.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/webexchanges-operator-telecity-plans-pound1bn-summer-flotation-719755.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004035330/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/webexchanges-operator-telecity-plans-pound1bn-summer-flotation-719755.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 October 2010|title=Web exchanges operator Telecity plans £1bn summer flotation|work=The Independent|access-date=3 April 2015}}

In September 2005, TeleCity plc was taken private by 3i and Oak Hill and by October of that year Telecity Group plc was incorporated and became the holding company of Telecity plc and its group companies in November 2005. In January 2006 Telecity Group acquired Redbus Interhouse plc, a rival business,{{cite web|url=http://www.thewhir.com/features/Shih_Web_Host_TeleCity_Redbus_Buy.cfm|title=Web Host Industry Review|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=23 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023181752/http://www.thewhir.com/features/Shih_Web_Host_TeleCity_Redbus_Buy.cfm|url-status=live}} resulting in the two business, TeleCity and Redbus, trading under the name of TelecityRedbus. Later in 2006 Telecity Group plc bought the European assets of the US-based Globix Corporation.[http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/itweek/news/2162704/telecityredbus-globix-uk Telecity Redbus to buy Globix UK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827065608/http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/itweek/news/2162704/telecityredbus-globix-uk |date=27 August 2006 }}

Following a rebranding exercise implemented in August 2007, TeleCity, Redbus and Globix (UK) began to trade under the name TelecityGroup. In October Telecity Group plc listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.{{cite web|url=http://www.efinancialnews.com/privateequity/index/content/2449104370|title=3i reaps rewards of Telecity revival|author=Nicolette Davey|work=efinancialnews.com|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=26 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226064004/https://www.fnlondon.com/|url-status=live}}

In August 2010, TelecityGroup acquired Internet Facilitators Limited (IFL), a provider of-carrier neutral data centres in Manchester.[http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/02/telecitygroup-acquires-manchester-facility/ TelecityGroup Acquires Manchester Facility] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803145722/http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2010/08/02/telecitygroup-acquires-manchester-facility/ |date=3 August 2010 }} Datacentre Knowledge, 2 August 2010 In August 2011 TelecityGroup acquired Data Electronics, which operates two carrier-neutral data centres in Dublin,{{cite web|url=http://www.colo-x.com/colox/telecity-acquires-dublins-data-electronics-group/|title=Telecity acquires Dublin's Data Electronics Group « Colocation & data centre consultants, London UK – colo-x.com|work=colo-x.com|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407064244/http://www.colo-x.com/colox/telecity-acquires-dublins-data-electronics-group/|url-status=live}} and in September 2011 UK Grid, a carrier-neutral data centre operator in Manchester was acquired.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/telecity-group-purchases-uk-grid-871399|title=Telecity Group purchases UK Grid for £11.7m|author=men Administrator|date=23 September 2011|work=men|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=8 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408132505/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/telecity-group-purchases-uk-grid-871399|url-status=live}}

TelecityGroup has announced it is expanding its data centre capacity across Europe. At the end of 2011 the company had 68 MW of available customer power and this will be increased to 124 MW by 2016. As part of this expansion the first phase of a new 9 MW data centre was opened in Amsterdam (Southeast AMS 5) in early 2012, and on 2 July 2012 Ed Vaizey, UK Minister for Communications, officially opened the first phase of a 21 MW expansion at the company's London Powergate facility.{{cite web|url=http://www.bladewatch.com/2012/07/03/telecity-deploys-next-generation-data-center/|title=Telecity deploys next generation data-center|publisher=Bladewatch|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407084020/http://www.bladewatch.com/2012/07/03/telecity-deploys-next-generation-data-center/|url-status=live}}

In August 2012, TelecityGroup acquired Tenue Oy, a provider of carrier-neutral data centres in Helsinki, Finland.[http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240170177/Telecity-buys-Finland-datacentre-operator-Academica-for-28m Telecity buys Finland datacentre operator Academica for €28m] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530193548/http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240170177/Telecity-buys-Finland-datacentre-operator-Academica-for-28m |date=30 May 2013 }} Computer Weekly, 5 November 2012 In November 2012 TelecityGroup acquired Academica, a data centre and IT services operator, also active in Finland{{Cite web|url=http://www.academica.fi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429175800/http://www.academica.fi/|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 April 2013|title=Academica on nyt osa TelecityGroupia|date=29 April 2013}} since 1996,{{Cite web|url=http://www.academica.fi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961228040819/http://www.academica.fi/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 December 1996|title=Academica|date=28 December 1996}} giving the enlarged TelecityGroup Finland a total of three data centres and 2MW of operational capacity; 7MW of additional capacity will be opened in two new facilities in due course.

In May 2013, TelecityGroup acquired SadeceHosting, a provider of data centre and hosted services in Istanbul, Turkey{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/telecity-acquires-turkish-datacentre-company/|title=Telecity acquires Turkish datacentre company|work=ZDNet|access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407181007/http://www.zdnet.com/article/telecity-acquires-turkish-datacentre-company/|url-status=live}} and in November 2013, TelecityGroup acquired 3DC, an independent data centre provider in Sofia, Bulgaria.{{cite web|url=http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news-analysis/telecitygroup-buys-warsaw-sofia-data-centers/83239.fullarticle|title=TelecityGroup buys Warsaw, Sofia data centers|work=Datacenter Dynamics|date=5 November 2013 |access-date=3 April 2015|archive-date=8 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408221714/http://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news-analysis/telecitygroup-buys-warsaw-sofia-data-centers/83239.fullarticle|url-status=live}}

In August 2014, Telecity’s founder Michael Tobin left the company following reported tensions with the board of directors.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/telecity-shows-its-maverick-michael-tobin-the-door-5k8205k33wf|title=Telecity shows its 'maverick' Michael Tobin the door|last=Fildes|first=Nic|date=2014-08-27|work=The Times|access-date=2019-03-31|language=en|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331011106/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/telecity-shows-its-maverick-michael-tobin-the-door-5k8205k33wf|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4a19997e-2d35-11e4-8105-00144feabdc0|title=Telecity chief executive Michael Tobin makes abrupt departure|last=Ahmed|first=Murad|website=Financial Times|date=26 August 2014 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331011108/https://www.ft.com/content/4a19997e-2d35-11e4-8105-00144feabdc0|url-status=live}}

In February 2015, it was announced that Telecity would merge with Interxion, purchasing it in a $2.2 billion deal, thus creating a joint data-center operator, with a combined value of $4.5 billion. According to the two CEOs, a deal promised to deliver around $600 million in synergy savings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news/telecity-and-interxion-announce-merger/|title=Telecity and Interxion announce merger|website=www.datacenterdynamics.com|date=11 February 2015 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010209/https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news/telecity-and-interxion-announce-merger/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/telecity-interxion-to-merge-in-data-centre-deal-1423652073|title=Telecity, Interxion to Merge in Data-Center Deal|last=Zekaria|first=Simon|date=2015-02-11|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-03-31|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010209/https://www.wsj.com/articles/telecity-interxion-to-merge-in-data-centre-deal-1423652073|url-status=live}}

In May 2015, US data company Equinix announced it would be acquiring TelecityGroup for £2.35 billion ($3.6 billion), which would terminate Telecity’s deal with Interxion.{{cite web|url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-telecity-m-a-equinix-idUSKBN0OE0GS20150529|title= Equinix to buy TelecityGroup for $3.6 billion, Interxion deal ended|publisher= Reuters|date= 29 May 2015|access-date= 24 January 2016|archive-date= 16 January 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160116074941/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-telecity-m-a-equinix-idUSKBN0OE0GS20150529|url-status= live}} Reuters reported that the acquisition of Telecity by Equinix would create the largest data center company in Europe. On 13 November 2015, the European Commission granted clearance for the Equinix offer to acquire Telecity.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-commission-grants-clearance-for-equinix-offer-to-acquire-telecity-300178445.html|title=European Commission Grants Clearance for Equinix Offer to Acquire Telecity|publisher=PR Newswire|date=13 November 2015|access-date=24 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063356/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-commission-grants-clearance-for-equinix-offer-to-acquire-telecity-300178445.html|url-status=live}} As part of this acquisition, the European Commission required divestment of eight of the datacentre sites on competition grounds, and these sites were sold to Digital Realty for $874 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.equinix.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/pr/123467/equinix-agrees-to-divest-eight-european-assets-to-digital-realty-trust-inc/|title=Equinix agrees to divest eight European assets to Digital Realty Trust Inc|work=Equinix |access-date=19 November 2018|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095540/https://www.equinix.co.uk/newsroom/press-releases/pr/123467/equinix-agrees-to-divest-eight-european-assets-to-digital-realty-trust-inc/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://telecoms.com/473933/equinix-sells-off-8-data-centres-for-874m/|title=Equinix sells off 8 data centres for $874m|last=Davies|first=Jamie|date=2016-07-06|website=Telecoms.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331013808/http://telecoms.com/473933/equinix-sells-off-8-data-centres-for-874m/|url-status=live}}

In January 2016, Equinix announced that it had completed the Telecity acquisition in a transaction valued at approximately $3.8 billion. The addition of Telecity data centers more than doubled Equinix's capacity in Europe, making the company the region's largest retail colocation provider.{{Cite web|url=https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2016/01/15/equinix-closes-blockbuster-3-8b-telecitygroup-acquisition|title=Equinix Closes Its Blockbuster $3.8B TelecityGroup Acquisition|date=2016-01-15|website=Data Center Knowledge|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010220/https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2016/01/15/equinix-closes-blockbuster-3-8b-telecitygroup-acquisition|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/204121/equinix-eqix-completes-muchawaited-merger-with-telecity|title=Equinix (EQIX) Completes Much-Awaited Merger with Telecity|last=Research|first=Zacks Investment|website=Zacks Investment Research|language=en|access-date=2019-03-31|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331013810/https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/204121/equinix-eqix-completes-muchawaited-merger-with-telecity|url-status=live}}

The company operated 37 data centres, located in several European cities:{{cite web|url=http://www.telecitygroup.com/european-data-centres.htm|title=Colocation Data Centres in Europe - TelecityGroup|work=telecitygroup.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319205107/http://www.telecitygroup.com/data-centres/european-data-centres.htm|archive-date=2015-03-19|url-status=dead|access-date=3 April 2015}}

• Amsterdam – 6 (Gyroscoopweg, Science Park, Southeast Amsterdam 2 (Zuidoost), Amstel Business Park, Duivendrechtse kade - Southeast Amsterdam 5 - (Zuidoost))
• Dublin – 4 (City West Business Campus, Kilcarbery Park, Northwest Business Park Unit 2, Northwest Business Park Unit 14)
• Frankfurt – 2 (Lyoner Strasse, Gutleutstrasse)
• Helsinki – 5 (Hiomo, Suvilahti, Sinimäki, Viikinmäki, Hansa)
• Istanbul - 1 (SadeceHosting)
• London – 8 (Prospect House - Tottenham Court Road, Oliver’s Yard - Old Street, Powergate - Acton and in Docklands, Sovereign House, Meridian Gate -, Bonnington House, 8&9 Harbour Exchange and 6&7 Harbour Exchange.
• Manchester – 4 (Willams & Kilburn House, Reynolds House, Synergy House, Joule House)
• Milan – 3 (Via Savona, Basiglio, Via Cascia)
• Paris - 3 (Energy Park, Victor Hugo, Condorcet)
• Sofia - 1 (Sofia-1)
• Stockholm - 2 (Stockholm 1- Bromma, Stockholm 2 - Skondal)
• Warsaw - 2 (Warsaw 1(LIM), Warsaw 2)

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{{Telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom}}

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Category:Defunct computer companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Internet architecture

Category:Servers (computing)

Category:Telecommunications in the United Kingdom

Category:Telecommunications in Europe

Category:Defunct companies based in London

Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1998

Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange