Bain Capital launches hscale to drive data centre expansion in EMEA region

Bain Capital has unveiled hscale, a dedicated hyperscale data centre platform.

The announcement marks a significant milestone in Bain Capital’s broader EMEA digital strategy, which began with its October 2024 acquisition of AQ Compute.

With a leadership team boasting a track record of delivering nearly 7 gigawatts of data centre capacity across EMEA and APAC, hscale is primed to meet soaring demand from hyperscalers driven by the surge in AI and cloud computing.

Spearheading the venture is CEO Oliver Schiebel, former head of Mainova WebHouse, supported by a team of industry veterans with deep operational and technical expertise. The company is positioning itself as a customer-first provider of scalable, replicable infrastructure tailored to the complex and evolving needs of hyperscale clients.

“Our vision with hscale is to build the fastest route to market for hyperscalers — combining cleaner energy, high-capacity infrastructure and outstanding service,” said Schiebel. “Backed by Bain Capital’s global investment strength and operational know-how, we are developing digital infrastructure that is future-proof, sustainable and built for scale.”

Aquila Group to have a 20 per cent stake in hscale

Aquila Group, which sold AQ Compute to Bain Capital last year, remains invested with a 20 per cent stake in hscale.

The sustainable asset management firm and its subsidiary, Aquila Clean Energy, will provide critical low-carbon and renewable energy expertise, supporting hscale’s ESG commitments and long-term growth goals.

Aquila will also back hscale with additional capital investment, underlining its confidence in the venture’s trajectory.

Michael Huber, principal at Bain Capital, confirmed that the firm plans a multi-billion Euro investment over the next few years, fueling an ambitious pipeline of over 1GW in key European data centre hubs including Frankfurt, London, Milan, Madrid, Oslo, Barcelona, and Zaragoza.

More than 100MW is already under construction, enabling hscale to deliver near-term capacity for clients operating on accelerated digital transformation timelines.

The platform’s official debut will take place at the Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes this June, where hscale will serve as a Gold Sponsor. CTO Abed Jishi is scheduled to join a high-profile panel on June 5th, where he will outline the company’s strategic blueprint and technology roadmap.

As hyperscale demand intensifies and sustainability becomes a core differentiator, hscale enters the market with a powerful proposition: a purpose-built, AI-ready infrastructure platform backed by two giant s— Bain Capital and Aquila Group — that combines global investment muscle with deep sustainability credentials.