Brazilian data center firm Scala has secured a new line of credit from Brazil’s development bank.
The National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) this week announced it had approved the contracting of a credit limit, initially worth R$180 million (US$31.3 million), for Scala Data Centers to invest in the acquisition and installation of equipment and materials for the expansion of its data centers.
Through the BNDES Machinery and Services program, Scala will acquire a comprehensive portfolio of resources, including advanced machinery, industrial systems, IT and automation equipment, and domestically manufactured components.
BNDES said the financing will allow the import of “specialized equipment unavailable in the Brazilian market,” though details weren’t shared.
“BNDES supports the expansion of the supply of data centers in Brazil, as they are important for the processing, storage, treatment, and distribution of data in the digital environment,” said BNDES president Aloizio Mercadante.
Clayton Malheiros, Scala’s CFO, added: “This financing will be added to the more than R$10 billion already invested by Scala, which will continue to grow and enable the future of technology in the country. We are proud to contribute to Brazil’s digital transformation, positioning the country as a global player in the AI revolution, and we believe that BNDES will play an increasingly important role in driving the sector. With this investment, we are ready to accelerate the development of cutting-edge infrastructure while maintaining the highest standards of environmental sustainability.”
Founded in 2020 after DigitalBridge acquired facilities from Brazilian IT firm UOL Diveo, Scala has invested around $1.6 billion in hyperscale data centers across Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Colombia.
Scala currently has more 300MW of installed capacity and under development, in addition to a landbank totaling more than 11 million square meters and access to some 6GW of power across four countries.
The company expects its data center portfolio to reach 500MW over the next five years, and recently announced plans for a gigawatt-scale campus in Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.
Last year, the company secured $500 million in financing from Coatue and IMCO.
DigitalBridge has previously been reported as exploring at least a partial sale of Scala.
