Digital Realty Announces Results of New Asia Pacific Data Centre Demand Survey

SINGAPORE, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: DLR), a leading global data centre solution provider, has released the results of a study of Asia Pacific data centre trends based on a detailed survey of senior decision makers at large corporations in Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong who are responsible for shaping their companies' data centre strategies. The research was conducted for Digital Realty by the research firm Campos Research & Analysis.

Highlights of the survey results:

• 76 percent of respondents will definitely or probably expand their data centre infrastructure in 2012.
• 17 percent of respondents report no plans for data centre projects in 2012 or 2013.
• 48 percent of respondents considering new data centre projects would expand in more than one location.
• 64 percent of respondents also reported having built a new data centre in the previous 24 months.

"The results of this independent study verify the strong demand for data centre space that we are seeing in our Asia Pacific markets," said Kris Kumar, Regional Head, Asia Pacific at Digital Realty. "We believe this growth is primarily being driven by global enterprises seeking to establish or expand their technical operations in the Asia Pacific region, as well as by companies based in the region with expanding computing requirements to support their rapid growth. While not yet in Hong Kong, our assets in Singapore, Sydney and Melbourne are well-positioned to capture a significant portion of this demand expected in the coming 24 months."

• Of those participants with plans to expand their data centres: 82 percent plan to use a partner (wholesale data centre provider or design/build partner) for their data centre project.
• 22 percent plan to use a Do-It-Yourself approach for their data centre project.
• 14 percent plan to use a containerized solution as part of their data centre project.
• The locations mentioned most often for upcoming data centre projects are Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.

Digital Realty has also published the results of similar studies of the North American and European data centre markets. For information about those studies, please visit www.digitalrealty.com.   

About the Methodology

Results of this study are based on surveys of more than 300 IT decision makers at large corporations in Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong with annual revenues of at least US$500 million and/or at least 500 employees. All survey participants are directly involved in the process of managing, executing contracts for, implementing or expanding data centres. Data centre internal customers also participated.  All participants were senior level executives and management, including CxOs, in IT, MIS, IS or Finance. The survey was conducted in January 2012.

About Campos Research & Analysis

Campos Research & Analysis conducts consumer research and business-to-business research, using qualitative and quantitative methodologies, to address the business issues of client companies. Campos Research & Analysis was founded in 1988 by Rusty Campos. Ellen Campos became a principal in the firm in 2000. Between them, the principals have nearly 50 years of research experience, both client-side in Fortune 500 companies and supply-side with Honomichl 50 market research companies. For more information, visit www.cr-a.com.

About Digital Realty

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. focuses on delivering customer driven data center solutions by providing secure, reliable and cost effective facilities that meet each customer's unique data center needs. Digital Realty's customers include domestic and international companies across multiple industry verticals ranging from information technology and Internet enterprises, to manufacturing and financial services. Digital Realty's 102 properties, excluding three properties held as investments in unconsolidated joint ventures, comprise approximately 19.1 million square feet as of February 27, 2012, including 2.4 million square feet of space held for redevelopment. Digital Realty's portfolio is located in 31 markets throughout Europe, North America, Singapore and Australia. Additional information about Digital Realty is included in the Company Overview, which is available on the Investors page of Digital Realty's website at http://www.digitalrealty.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the survey results, demand for data centre space in Asia Pacific and the factors driving such demand, the data centre expansion plans of other companies, expectations regarding the survey respondents' demand for data centre space, reasons for datacentre expansion, data centre growth locations and the use of partners in data centre projects. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following: the impact of the recent deterioration in global economic, credit and market conditions, including the downgrade of the U.S. government's credit rating; current local economic conditions in our geographic markets; decreases in information technology spending, including as a result of economic slowdowns or recession; adverse economic or real estate developments in our industry or the industry sectors that we sell to (including risks relating to decreasing real estate valuations and impairment charges); our dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; our failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; increased interest rates and operating costs; risks associated with using debt to fund our business activities, including re-financing and interest rate risks, our failure to repay debt when due, adverse changes in our credit ratings or our breach of covenants or other terms contained in our loan facilities and agreements; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; our inability to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; our failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or redeveloped properties; risks related to joint venture investments, including as a result of our lack of control of such investments; delays or unexpected costs in development or redevelopment of properties; decreased rental rates or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and space held for redevelopment; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; our inability to acquire off-market properties; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of our insurance coverage; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in local, state and federal regulatory requirements, including changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Digital Realty Trust, Inc.