Data center REIT DuPont Fabros Technology (DFT) has been expanding its data center network in recent years. After initially focusing on the northern Virginia market, the company has opened data centers in Chicago and New Jersey, and is building its first facility in Silicon Valley. There are hints that the company is getting closer to an international expansion.
DuPont Fabros announced this week that veteran real estate executive John Roberts, the former President of AMB Capital Partners, has joined the company's board of directors. "We believe that his real estate expertise, and extensive experience with capital markets and international joint venture transactions, will be invaluable as we work to continue our operating success and achieve our plans for growth," said Lammot du Pont, Executive Chairman of DuPont Fabros.
The reference to "international joint venture transactions" comes as some of the leading data center developers are focused on global expansion. Both Equinix (EQIX) and Digital Realty Trust (DLR) have acquired or built new data centers in Asia. In conference calls with analysts, DFT president and CEO Hossein Fateh has said that the company might consider sites in international markets as part of its long-range growth plan, but is expanding cautiously and is currently focused on completing its announced projects in the U.S.
