S&P Global Buys Data Center Intel Firm in Major AI Infrastructure Play

NEW YORK, NY – July 28, 2026 – In a move that underscores the immense value of the physical infrastructure powering the digital world, S&P Global announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire datacenterHawk. The market intelligence platform, which provides granular data on the global data center and network landscape, will be carved out from Leeds Equity Partners’ portfolio company, Simplify Compliance.

While financial terms were not disclosed, the transaction speaks volumes about the strategic priorities of major information providers. S&P Global is betting that the next frontier of essential intelligence lies not just in financial markets, but in the steel, concrete, and fiber optic cables that form the backbone of the AI revolution. For Leeds Equity, the sale marks a highly successful exit, validating a specialized investment thesis focused on the power of B2B data.

S&P Global's Strategic Foray into Digital Infrastructure's Core

The acquisition is far more than a simple bolt-on for S&P Global. It represents a calculated strategic push to dominate the intelligence layer of the rapidly expanding digital infrastructure market. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, the demand for data centers—and the power to run them—is exploding. This has created a complex, high-stakes environment where investors, developers, and operators need more than just financial data; they need a map of the physical world.

datacenterHawk provides precisely that. Founded in 2014, the company has built a reputation for its comprehensive, real-time data on data center real estate, capacity, pricing, and power availability. By integrating this asset-level intelligence with its own formidable resources, including market analysis from its 451 Research division and deep insights into energy markets, S&P Global is positioning itself to offer an unparalleled, holistic view of the entire digital infrastructure ecosystem.

This synergy is designed to answer the critical questions facing the industry: Where is new capacity being built? What are the constraints on the power grid in key markets? How are pricing dynamics shifting amid hyperscale demand? For S&P Global, providing answers to these questions is a direct extension of its mission to deliver "Essential Intelligence." The acquisition enables the firm to develop new benchmarks, indices, and analytics that connect the world of compute demand directly to the realities of power markets, grid constraints, and land availability.

A Blueprint for Success: Leeds Equity's Data-Driven Playbook

The sale is a significant victory for Leeds Equity Partners, a private equity firm that has carved a niche by focusing exclusively on the "Knowledge Industries." The transaction serves as a powerful case study in the firm's operational strategy: identify a high-potential data business, inject capital and expertise, and accelerate its growth to become an indispensable industry tool.

Since Simplify Compliance and Leeds Equity invested in 2022, datacenterHawk has seen its annual recurring revenue (ARR) grow by an astonishing 6x. This remarkable trajectory is a testament to what can be achieved when a specialized firm applies its playbook with precision. Leeds Equity didn't just provide capital; it partnered with management to scale the business and solidify its market-leading position.

"It has been a privilege to partner with David and the entire datacenterHawk team," said Scott VanHoy, Partner at Leeds Equity Partners. "datacenterHawk has established itself as a trusted provider of market intelligence for the digital infrastructure industry. We are proud of the remarkable growth the team has driven, and look forward to seeing the business continue to grow with S&P Global."

This exit is the latest in a series of successful investments for Leeds Equity that validate its B2B data thesis. The firm has a history of backing and successfully exiting specialized information providers, including Fulcrum Financial Data (sold to Fitch) and TalentNeuron. This consistent track record recently helped the firm close its latest fund with $1.9 billion in commitments, providing a substantial war chest to find the next datacenterHawk.

The Rising Currency of Data Center Intelligence

At its core, this acquisition highlights a fundamental market shift: in the digital economy, granular data about physical infrastructure has become a currency of immense value. The data center market, projected to surge from approximately $430 billion in 2026 to over $1.1 trillion by 2035, is a landscape of massive opportunity and equally massive risk. Making the right decision on where to build, invest, or lease can mean the difference between capitalizing on the AI boom or facing stranded assets.

Companies like datacenterHawk thrive by providing the clarity needed to navigate this complexity. Its platform, which includes the FiberLocator product for mapping network connectivity, empowers clients to make billion-dollar decisions with confidence. It offers insights into everything from available power and real estate supply to the competitive landscape in key markets across the globe.

"Since the investment from Simplify Compliance and Leeds Equity in 2022, our business has grown annual recurring revenue more than 6x," stated David Liggitt, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of datacenterHawk. "Their support and capital has been invaluable as we built our business around helping the data center industry make smarter and faster decisions through real-time data and market intelligence."

A New Era for datacenterHawk and its Clients

For datacenterHawk, becoming part of S&P Global opens a new chapter of global expansion. The integration will provide the company with the resources and reach to scale its mission on a worldwide stage, embedding its data within the workflows of S&P Global's vast client base. Liggitt noted that joining S&P Global presents an opportunity to "scale that mission globally while continuing to serve our customers with the quality, speed, and support they've come to expect."

The transaction, expected to close in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, will see datacenterHawk integrated into the S&P Global Energy division. This move signals an intent to create a powerhouse of intelligence that bridges the gap between digital demand and energy supply. For customers, this promises a future of even more sophisticated tools to navigate one of the most critical and dynamic infrastructure markets of the 21st century.