Global law firm Clifford Chance advised Morrison in connection with an exclusivity agreement entered into with Orange regarding the contemplated creation of a jointly controlled data centre company located in France. The 50/50 joint venture would support the development and expansion of Orange’s existing French data centre portfolio, targeting capacity of 400 MW – nearly ten times its current capacity.
As part of the contemplated transaction, Orange would contribute five major data centres across four campuses in France – Chevilly-Larue, Aubervilliers, Chartres and Val-de-Reuil – to the joint venture, together with its operational expertise and commercial reach. Morrison would bring its leading track record in infrastructure and data centre investment and would commit equity through its global value-add strategy to support the growth of the platform. The platform would be supported by an investment programme of €3 billion leveraging Orange’s existing assets, Morrison equity contribution and debt.
By developing this new platform, Orange and Morrison would contribute to positioning France as a leading location for digital infrastructure. The platform would benefit from some of the most decarbonised electricity in Europe and would aim for the highest standards of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
The signing of the transaction is expected by the end of 2026, subject in particular to consultation with the relevant employee representative bodies and receipt of the required regulatory approvals. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2027.
The Clifford Chance team was led by Patrick Tardivy, Partner, Katerina Drakoularakou, Counsel, Elisabeth Kerlen, Senior Associate, Raphaël Morin and Pierre-André Kikano, Associates, on the M&A aspects, with support from Patrice Navarro, Partner, Sihem Hassani, Senior Associate, and Antoine Tong, Associate (Tech/IT), Jean-Baptiste Merigot de Treigny, Partner, Pierre-Hubert Boissière and Gabriel Legrand, Associates (Public Law), Alexandre Couturier, Partner, Samuel Sellam, Eva Jaulin and Shahzel Asghar, Associates (Real Estate), David Por, Partner, Naomi Martin, Senior Associate, and Eva Lustman, Associate (IP), Rémy Lefebvre, Counsel, and Hanene Zemir, Senior Associate (Tax), David Tayar, Partner, Salomé Haddou, Senior Associate, Hendrik Coppoolse and Flore Petitot, Associates (FDI), Alice Dunoyer de Segonzac, Partner (Compliance), Florence Aubonnet, Partner (Employment), Paul Loisel, Partner (Finance), Geoffroy Pascaud, Counsel (Litigation), as well as Jonathan Dillon, Partner, Ross Nixon and Toju Adelaja, Associates, from the London office (Private Equity).
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