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Richard Ludwig

Director, Digital Infrastructure at Alantra

London, United Kingdom

RL
LinkedIn
Why they matter

Alantra's lead digital infrastructure banker has real-time visibility into who's buying, selling, and pricing data center and fibre assets across Europe, the US, and Africa.

Background

Richard Ludwig is a Director in Alantra's Technology investment banking team, where he leads coverage of digital infrastructure, focusing on data centers (retail, wholesale, HPC, hyperscale), fibre (FTTP, B2B, submarine cables), and towers/DAS/small cells. He joined Alantra in mid-2023 after leading the Digital Infrastructure offering at Torch Partners (2019-2023), with earlier stints at RBC Capital Markets and SMBC Nikko Capital Markets. He is ACA-qualified (since 2010) and holds a BA in Spanish and Politics from the University of Leeds, with 15+ years advising digital infrastructure funds, private equity firms, and owner-managers across Europe, the US, and Africa.

Notable deals

  • 2023
    Appointed Director to build out Alantra's Digital Infrastructure coverage within its Technology advisory team
  • 2026
    Advised Arcus Infrastructure Partners on its buy-side acquisition of Volta Data Centres (6MW carrier-neutral London colocation facility) from Verne
  • 2026
    Featured on the Inside Data Centre podcast discussing 2025-2026 data center M&A activity, including the $40bn Cyline deal and enterprise colocation trends
  • 2025
    Co-authored Alantra's 2025 Data Centre M&A Review providing expert insight on valuations, deal structures, and sector strategy

Call-prep brief

Background

  • Director in Alantra's Technology team, dedicated to digital infrastructure since joining in July 2023
  • Built and led the Digital Infrastructure practice at Torch Partners (2019-2023); earlier VP roles at RBC Capital Markets and SMBC Nikko
  • ACA-qualified accountant; 15+ years in sector-focused M&A and capital raising

Current Focus

  • Data centers across the spectrum: retail, wholesale, HPC, and hyperscale
  • Fibre (FTTP, B2B, submarine cables) and towers/DAS/small cells
  • Active on buy-side, sell-side, and capital-raising mandates for infrastructure funds, PE sponsors, and owner-managers across Europe, the US, and Africa

What He Cares About

  • Power availability and AI-driven demand as the dominant valuation driver in 2025-2026
  • The rise of "neo clouds" as a customer category distinct from hyperscalers
  • Enterprise colocation resurgence as hyperscale assets get priced out of mid-market reach

Recent Moves

  • Advised Arcus Infrastructure Partners on its 2026 acquisition of Volta Data Centres from Verne — Arcus' first UK data center entry
  • Publicly commenting on the record-breaking $40bn Cyline deal and broader 2025/2026 M&A wave

Potential Sensitivities

  • As a sell-side/buy-side advisor, he can't discuss live, unannounced mandates or client-confidential pricing
  • May be guarded about naming specific undisclosed targets his firm is currently marketing

Questions to Ask

  1. Where is he seeing the widest bid-ask spread right now between hyperscale and enterprise colocation assets?
  2. Which geographies (UK, continental Europe, Africa) does he see as most under-priced for new entrants in 2026?
  3. What's his read on how power constraints are reshaping deal structures and timelines this cycle?

Outreach draft

Subject
Quick call on data center M&A trends?
Hi Richard, I came across your recent commentary on the Inside Data Centre podcast and Alantra's 2025 Data Centre M&A Review — your take on enterprise colocation resurgence and power-driven valuations was sharp. We're a deal team evaluating opportunities in the data center colocation space and would value your perspective on current pricing dynamics, particularly around mid-market assets versus hyperscale deals like the ones Alantra has been closing (e.g., the Arcus/Volta transaction). Would you have 20-30 minutes in the next couple of weeks for a call? Happy to work around your schedule. Best regards, [Placeholder Name]

Sources