Singapore-listed AsiaPhos has announced plans to acquire a controlling stake in a Perth data centre operator, marking a significant shift for the company as it looks to diversify beyond its commodities trading business and establish a foothold in digital infrastructure. The company said it is proposing to acquire a 51 percent shareholding in DC Alliance, the owner of Perth-based Pier DC, for approximately SGD 7 million, subject to due diligence, definitive agreements and regulatory approvals.
The proposed acquisition represents a strategic transformation for AsiaPhos, which previously operated a phosphate mining business in China before pivoting towards commodities trading and more recently exploring opportunities in renewable energy and digital infrastructure.
Located in Perth’s Canning Vale industrial area, Pier DC is an existing Tier III colocation facility serving enterprise and government customers. The facility currently operates a 2MW power installation supporting approximately 700kW of IT load, with plans for modular expansion to 8MW.
Pier DC has been part of the Perth market for more than a decade and was acquired by Singapore-based DC Alliance in 2020, when the company cited Perth’s growing role as a connectivity gateway between Australia and Asia as a key attraction. The facility is also an approved member of Western Australia’s GovNext-ICT programme and has historically served government and enterprise workloads.
Expansion plans tied to AI ambitions
AsiaPhos said it intends to expand the facility’s capacity while targeting opportunities linked to AI infrastructure growth. “We are pleased to announce a landmark acquisition of Pier DC,” said Ong Eng Keong, chief executive officer of AsiaPhos.
“Pier DC is situated in Perth, Australia which is rapidly emerging as a key strategic hub for hyperscalers and AI-ready data centres, driven by its direct subsea cable connectivity to Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, along with the growing need for data sovereignty in Western Australia.”
The company said it is in discussions with vendors to support expansion of the facility to its planned 8MW capacity and expects the additional infrastructure to drive a significant increase in revenue.
Roy Wong, chief executive officer of DC Alliance, said the transaction would support the next phase of growth for the facility. “Pier DC has been growing its business progressively over the past decade. This business merger will aid us to expand existing capacity and capabilities,” he said. “With the additional resources of AsiaPhos, Pier DC shall be exploring acquiring customers in the AI industry and expanding its presence in Western Australia.”
China Mobile relationship
The proposed acquisition also follows AsiaPhos’s announcement earlier this year that it had signed a letter of intent with China Mobile International (CMI) to explore opportunities in data centres and AI computing services across Southeast Asia. Under the arrangement, CMI would introduce potential customers to AsiaPhos for data centre and AI projects, while AsiaPhos would consider CMI as a preferred partner for data centre design, fit-out and infrastructure works where appropriate.
“We are honoured to partner China Mobile International to explore opportunities in DC and AI computing services,” Ong said. “China Mobile International has an extensive enterprise customers’ network exceeding 24.5 million globally. We look forward to their support in Pier DC.”
The announcement comes at a time when data sovereignty and trusted infrastructure have become increasingly important considerations for government and critical industry workloads in Australia. While AsiaPhos highlighted its relationship with China Mobile International as a potential source of customers and project opportunities, the company did not disclose any ownership or operational role for CMI in the proposed acquisition.