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CVC DIF acquires majority stake in firstcolo to support the development of a scalable high-performance data centre platform in Germany

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CVC DIF, the infrastructure business of global private markets manager CVC, has agreed to acquire a significant majority stake in firstcolo from CUBE Infrastructure. FRA7 in Rosbach provides an important foundation for the continued development of firstcolo’s scalable, AI-ready and energy-efficient high-performance data centre platform. The FRA7 data centre is designed for up to 24 MW of total capacity, up to 16 MW of IT load and liquid-cooled high-density racks supporting up to 200 kW per rack. The founders will remain active members of firstcolo’s management team and retain an equity interest in the business.

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, Germany, Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CVC DIF, the infrastructure business of global private markets manager CVC, has agreed to acquire a significant majority stake in firstcolo GmbH. The investment will be made through CVC DIF Value Add IV. CUBE Infrastructure is the seller. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of September 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Founded in 2007, firstcolo is an established data centre and digital infrastructure partner in the Frankfurt metropolitan region. The company operates two data centres in the region and serves more than 350 customers with colocation, dedicated hardware, cloud, connectivity and managed services. Its business model combines highly available, certified infrastructure with direct technical support and personal points of contact.

The partnership with CVC DIF provides the foundation for firstcolo to implement its next phase of growth. The initial focus is the FRA7 greenfield project in Rosbach vor der Höhe, within the Frankfurt metropolitan region. The facility will provide up to 24 MW of total capacity, equivalent to up to 16 MW of IT load, and is designed to support demanding artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and cloud workloads.

FRA7 is being planned as an AI-ready data centre from the outset. The infrastructure is designed for liquid-cooled high-density racks supporting up to 200 kW per rack. Advanced liquid cooling, robust power infrastructure, a scalable design and high-performance connectivity will provide the technical foundation for compute-intensive GPU clusters, AI training and inference workloads, as well as other high-performance applications. firstcolo is also targeting a PUE of below 1.2 for the site.

The site, power supply, permits and delivery through a turnkey construction model have already been secured. firstcolo has also entered into a partnership with regional energy provider OVAG, which will secure the site’s energy supply and enable the use of data centre waste heat in regional district heating networks.

FRA7 will provide an important foundation for the continued development of firstcolo’s high-performance data centre platform. The project is expected to strengthen the company’s capabilities in delivering AI-ready, energy-efficient infrastructure and to inform the development of potential future sites in the Frankfurt region and other attractive German markets. Over time, firstcolo aims to scale its platform in line with customer demand and market opportunities.

Jerome Evans and Nicolaj Kamensek will remain active managers and shareholders of firstcolo in their respective roles as CEO and COO. Together with CFO Dennis Bergfeld and the existing management team, they will lead the company through its next phase of development.  

Jerome Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of firstcolo, commented:
„The partnership with CVC DIF marks an important milestone for firstcolo – and a significant endorsement of what our team has built over recent years. We are proud to have gained a partner in CVC DIF that shares our long-term vision and will support us in delivering it. FRA7 is more than a new data centre: it will strengthen our platform and enhance our ability to support the next generation of AI, cloud and enterprise workloads. Together with CVC DIF, we intend to build on our strong operational foundation, expand our presence in the Frankfurt metropolitan region and pursue further growth opportunities in attractive German markets. Our objective is to develop firstcolo into one of Germany’s leading colocation providers – delivering high-performance, reliable and long-term predictable infrastructure from Germany.”

Nicolaj Kamensek, COO and Co-Founder of firstcolo, commented:
„Since our foundation, firstcolo has been built on technical excellence, operational reliability and close customer relationships. We will now apply these principles across a significantly larger platform. FRA7 will be delivered as a state-of-the-art, AI-ready data centre supporting up to 200 kW per rack, with advanced liquid cooling, robust power infrastructure, high-performance connectivity and scalable operating processes. The experience gained through the planning, construction and operation of the facility will strengthen our capabilities and inform the development of potential future projects. As we grow, it is essential that we maintain our quality standards, short decision-making paths and the personal technical responsibility our customers value.”

Willem Jansonius, Managing Partner at CVC DIF and Head of the CVC DIF Value Add strategy, commented:
“firstcolo represents a rare opportunity to invest in a high-quality, founder-led colocation platform in an attractive and supply-constrained FLAP-D data centre markets. The company combines a resilient, cash-generative existing business with a substantially de-risked expansion project and a differentiated service offering for enterprise customers. We look forward to working with Jerome, Nicolaj, Dennis and the wider firstcolo team to deliver FRA7 and support the company’s development into the leading German colocation platform.”

Stefan Moosmann, Head of DACH at CVC DIF, commented:
„firstcolo is a strong example of CVC DIF’s local-for-local approach in action. The opportunity was sourced through our Frankfurt team’s local network and developed in seamless collaboration with our pan-European digital infrastructure team. By combining local market access with deep sector and execution expertise, we were able to develop strong conviction in the business and a clear plan to support its next phase of growth. “

Through the continued development of its platform, firstcolo aims to support sustainable digital value creation for businesses in Germany. The company will focus in particular on requirements arising from artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, sovereign cloud architectures, regulated industries and business-critical enterprise workloads. Energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy, advanced cooling technologies and the integration of waste-heat concepts form central components of its development approach.

For further information, please visit firstcolo.net. 

About firstcolo:  

The firstcolo Group, based in Frankfurt am Main, is one of the leading operators of state-of-the-art data centres. Since its foundation in 2007, the company has been offering bespoke IT infrastructure solutions, ranging from colocation and server systems to cloud solutions. With a guaranteed availability of 99.999 per cent and certifications to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015, firstcolo sets the highest standards in operational reliability and data protection.

All firstcolo data centre operations are powered by certified renewable electricity. Excellent connectivity and low latency are also ensured by the company’s own IP backbone, with a capacity of over 2,000 Gbit/s. Today, more than 350 customers from various sectors place their trust in the team of around 80 experts, who are helping to shape the digital future in a sustainable way through personalised support and innovative strength.

About CVC DIF:

CVC DIF is a leading global mid-market infrastructure equity fund manager.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, CVC DIF has c. EUR 23 billion of infrastructure assets under management in energy transition, transport, utilities and digitalisation.

With over 260 people in 12 offices, CVC DIF offers a unique market approach, combining a global presence with the benefits of strong local networks and sector-focused investment capabilities.

CVC DIF forms the infrastructure strategy of leading global private markets manager CVC. This partnership allows CVC DIF to benefit from CVC’s global platform, with 29 offices across five continents.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008789/firstcolo_Photo.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008787/firstcolo_Logo.jpg

Press Contact:

firstcolo Group
Boris Mayer
Head of Marketing
E-Mail: marketing@firstoclo.net

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SOURCE firstcolo Datacenters GmbH

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Pet Circle builds fulfilment foundation for continued ecommerce growth with Manhattan WMS

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SYDNEY, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Manhattan Associates Inc. (NASDAQ: MANH) has partnered with Australia’s largest online pet retailer, Pet Circle, to modernise its national fulfilment network with Manhattan warehouse management system (WMS). This partnership has created a digital foundation for warehouse automation, improved operational efficiency and faster delivery as the online retailer continues its rapid growth.

As a 100% ecommerce business, Pet Circle had relied on a bespoke WMS for more than 13 years. While the platform had successfully supported the company’s early growth, increasing order volumes and manual warehouse processes were making it more difficult to scale efficiently and support future automation.

Pet Circle selected Manhattan WMS to support its long-term growth strategy and automation roadmap. A key factor in the decision was Manhattan Associates’ local implementation team, whose close collaboration helped configure the solution around Pet Circle’s operational requirements.

The implementation began at Pet Circle’s Sydney fulfilment centre before being rolled out across facilities in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, creating consistent warehouse processes across the retailer’s national network. Shortly after the initial go-live, Pet Circle introduced autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated packing systems, and conveyor and sortation technology, with Manhattan WMS serving as the platform connecting these technologies across its fulfilment operation.

Andrew Haverfield, Head of Innovation Supply Chain at Pet Circle, said the move to Manhattan WMS was driven by the company’s long-term growth strategy.

“As a fast-growing ecommerce business, we needed a warehouse management platform that could grow with us. Our previous system had served us well for many years, but we’d reached the point where manual processes were making it harder to keep pace with increasing demand and deliver the level of service our customers expect,” Haverfield explained. “Manhattan WMS has given us a modern foundation for our fulfilment network. We’ve been able to standardise processes across our sites, introduce warehouse automation and better manage peak trading periods, while creating a platform that can continue to evolve alongside our business.”

Since implementing Manhattan, Pet Circle has streamlined previously manual warehouse processes, improved operational consistency across its fulfilment network and strengthened its ability to manage peak trading periods. During the last Black Friday sales event, the retailer maintained same-day and next-day delivery services throughout almost the entire peak period – a significant improvement on previous years, when elevated order volumes could impact fulfilment for one to two weeks afterwards.

The solution has also delivered greater visibility across warehouse operations, providing richer operational data and audit trails that enable faster issue resolution, continuous optimisation and more informed decision-making. Pet Circle is now using these insights to further optimise its operations while exploring future automation opportunities across its fulfilment network.

Raghav Sibal, Vice President APAC at Manhattan Associates, said modern fulfilment operations require cloud native technology that can continually evolve alongside the business.

“To support today’s speed of operations, retailers need a flexible platform that can integrate automation, unlock greater operational visibility and continuously adapt as customer expectations evolve,” said Sibal. “Pet Circle’s transformation demonstrates how the right technology foundation can help businesses improve fulfilment performance today while supporting long-term growth and innovation.”

Looking ahead, Pet Circle plans to continue optimising warehouse processes across its national fulfilment network while evaluating further automation opportunities to support future growth.

-ends-

About Manhattan Associates

Manhattan Associates is a global technology leader, providing supply chain and omnichannel commerce solutions with unmatched AI capabilities. We design, build and offer best-in-class, AI-powered, cloud-based solutions that drive resilience and efficiency for businesses. We enable enterprises to uniquely unify front-end sales with back-end supply chain execution. 

Our commitment to innovation, cloud-native platform and API-first architecture create simpler experiences and faster paths to value for our customers. We empower them to preempt and react to emerging trends and global disruptions with technical expertise and operational confidence, transforming challenges into competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.manh.com.au

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/pet-circle-builds-fulfilment-foundation-for-continued-ecommerce-growth-with-manhattan-wms-302937285.html

SOURCE Manhattan Associates Inc.

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Xinhua Silk Road: Transformation helps “north China capital of daily porcelains” seek bigger global presence

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BEIJING, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — When the 2026 China (Beijing) International Exquisite Ceramics Expo kicked off on November 5, 20 ceramic producers from Huairen City of Shanxi Province, north China showcased not only delicate exhibits, but also the prowess of their porcelain artisans.

The exhibition offered visitors a chance to get a glimpse of Huairen’s porcelain industry whose transformation driven by technology innovation and development philosophy change has borne delightful fruits.

In September, Huairen municipal government was included in the list of founders for establishing demonstration zones for national geographical indication protection in China and was the only one selected in Shanxi Province.

Currently, the city is capable of producing over 20 series of ceramic products such as daily porcelains, hotel porcelains, packaging porcelains and porcelain artworks, and boasts an annual full-industrial chain output value of 6.3 billion yuan.

In Huairen Economic and Technological Development Zone, 31 local enterprises engaged in ceramic raw materials production, R&D, manufacturing, testing, logistics and marketing have leveraged digital technologies to transform production.

The old production model, which relied on veteran craftsmen judging firing temperature by sight and preparing glaze based on experience, has gradually been replaced by standardized and intelligent processes.

In the workshop of a local ceramic producer, robotic arms apply glaze with high precision, and intelligent kilns independently maintain constant temperatures, cutting the production cycle by nearly 30 percent.

At present, 42 production lines in Huairen have completed intelligent upgrading, helping raise qualified product rates of local producers to 85 percent while dropping unit energy consumption by 18 percent.

While intelligent manufacturing and green development are driving cost-effective production, Huairen ceramic businesses now focus more on design and building emotional and cultural bonds with consumers.

Just like the fine exhibits they brought to the Beijing expo from November 5 to 8, ceramic products of 1,000-plus types from Huairen, including elegant tableware for hotels and co-branded products printed with Disney characters, are on display in a spacious exhibition hall in Yiwu International Trade City.

Beside the hall, a 1,000-square-meter ceramics warehouse for cross-border trade is providing global merchants with access to one-stop product selection and order-placing, bringing Huairen ceramics to daily life of global consumers.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/352962.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road

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Oceanpayment to Showcase OP Link for Cross-Border QR Payments at SFF 2026

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Oceanpayment will showcase OP Link at the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) 2026, taking place November 18–20 at Singapore EXPO.

HONG KONG, Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Digital wallets and QR code payments are part of everyday life worldwide. From shopping and dining to getting around, consumers rely on familiar local wallets, which may not always be accepted abroad.

Using local wallets abroad involves more than adding a payment method. Payment networks, banking systems, and clearing arrangements vary by market. Cross-border QR payments require network connections, transaction data exchange, currency conversion, clearing, and settlement.

Greater interoperability between payment networks is playing an increasingly important role in extending local payment methods across borders.

A traveler may scan a merchant’s QR code with a familiar local wallet; the merchant accepts payment through its existing QR network. Providers across markets must coordinate transaction processing and settlement.

For wallet operators, banks, and payment service providers, cross-border connectivity can extend service reach, reduce duplicate integrations, and support more consumer payment scenarios.

To address this need, Oceanpayment offers OP Link, a cross-border payment connectivity service designed to connect local wallets with payment acceptance networks across markets. OP Link provides wallet operators, banks, payment service providers, and acquiring partners with QR payment connectivity, transaction routing, and support for clearing and settlement coordination. Its capabilities include network access, currency conversion, transaction status synchronization, and cross-network reconciliation, helping simplify coordination between payment systems and extend local payment services to more cross-border consumer scenarios.

As payment networks evolve, SFF 2026 will bring together finance and technology leaders to explore five forces reshaping global finance: geoeconomics, technology, capital, talent, and policy.

At SFF 2026, Oceanpayment will highlight OP Link’s cross-border wallet connectivity and QR payment network integration capabilities. It will also present its integrated payment solutions, including Global Acquiring, Global Issuing, OPCCOUNT (Global Accounts), and OPNexus (Payment Suite & Services).

Oceanpayment has integrated more than 500 payment methods, with services available in over 230 countries and regions. It supports more than 140 transaction currencies and over 10 settlement currencies, serving more than 200,000 businesses worldwide.

Global payment connectivity is reflected in every transaction, from consumers using local wallets abroad to payment networks working across markets. Oceanpayment will continue collaborating with financial institutions and payment network partners to connect local payment capabilities with cross-border consumer needs and support global commerce.

For more information, visit www.oceanpayment.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/oceanpayment-to-showcase-op-link-for-cross-border-qr-payments-at-sff-2026-302935751.html

SOURCE Oceanpayment

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