DigitalBridge & La Caisse acquire Yondr to boost AI data centres
DigitalBridge Group and La Caisse have finalised the acquisition of Yondr Group, taking joint control of the global hyperscale data centre developer and operator from Cathexis Holdings.
The investment marks a continuation of DigitalBridge and La Caisse's collaboration in digital infrastructure, with the acquisition aimed at supporting Yondr's growth in markets that are experiencing increased demand for hyperscale and AI-driven data centre services. La Caisse has made the investment alongside funds managed by DigitalBridge and assumed an active role in the company's ownership.
Concurrent with the transaction's completion, Aaron Wangenheim was appointed as Yondr's Chief Executive Officer, and Sandip Mahajan as Chief Financial Officer, both effective immediately.
Expanding capacity
Yondr addresses complex data centre capacity requirements for major technology companies globally. The group currently has committed more than 420MW of hyperscale capacity to clients and possesses additional land holdings for expansion, providing potential for over 1GW of total capacity. Growth in demand for advanced data processing, fuelled by digital transformation and the acceleration of cloud and AI-related services, positions Yondr to pursue further development projects.
Jon Mauck, Senior Managing Director and Head of Data Centers at DigitalBridge, underlined the strategic importance of the acquisition.
"We're thrilled to finalize our acquisition of Yondr alongside La Caisse. With a diverse global portfolio of campuses, Yondr further strengthens DigitalBridge's world-class data center portfolio and reinforces our focus on being a global partner to the leading hyperscale, technology, and AI companies that are driving the digital economy. We look forward to working alongside Aaron and Sandip, who bring extensive leadership experience, as we support Yondr's strategy of developing and operating scaled capacity to meet the demands of AI and cloud computing. We are also very pleased to partner again with La Caisse, who shares our partnership-oriented approach to long-term value creation."
Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse, commented on the rationale for the investment and the group's expectations for Yondr's future.
"Over the past few years, we have explored various direct investment opportunities in the data center space, and Yondr has stood out as a compelling platform to capitalise on the growth of the sector. At the end of 2024, we joined forces with DigitalBridge – a trusted partner – to invest in Yondr's next development phase under renewed leadership and ownership. This investment reflects our conviction in the value of digital infrastructure and our confidence in Yondr's ability to scale with agility, innovate, and deliver AI-ready data solutions at pace."
Track record of collaboration
DigitalBridge and La Caisse have previously worked together in the digital infrastructure arena. In 2019, La Caisse took a 30% stake in Vertical Bridge, a DigitalBridge portfolio company and the largest private owner and operator of communications infrastructure in the United States. The firms further collaborated in 2024 to support a $3.3 billion tower transaction involving Vertical Bridge and Verizon.
William Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Cathexis, reflected on the transaction and Yondr's journey.
"I am proud to have supported Yondr on its journey since its formation in 2018. Yondr has become a vital infrastructure partner to many of the world's largest technology companies, and I believe DigitalBridge and La Caisse are the right partners to support Yondr through its next stage of growth. I look forward to seeing what the business will achieve."
Leadership changes
Aaron Wangenheim, the new Chief Executive Officer, brings over twenty years of global data centre leadership, including senior roles at T5 Data Centers and advisory work in customised data centre solutions. Sandip Mahajan, newly named as Chief Financial Officer, has more than thirty years of financial and infrastructure investment experience, including CFO roles at Mitie Group and significant project finance responsibilities at Balfour Beatty.
Wangenheim commented on his appointment and Yondr's direction.
"Yondr has an impressive track record as a leading developer, owner, and operator of hyperscale data centers, and I'm excited to be joining the company as Chief Executive Officer at such a pivotal time for the business and the industry. I look forward to leading Yondr through its next phase of growth with the backing of two world-class investors that appreciate the critical role we play in supporting our clients."
Wangenheim takes over from Paul Cossell, who is retiring from the role after two and a half years at Yondr. Mr. Mahajan succeeds Chester Reid, who is stepping down from the Chief Financial Officer position to pursue other interests.
