Acquisition of Yondr Group Advances Digital Infrastructure and Supports Sustainable Development Goals

Strategic Acquisition and Leadership Appointments

The recent purchase of Yondr Group from Cathexis Holdings marks a pivotal advancement in the digital infrastructure strategies of both acquiring firms, DigitalBridge and La Caisse. This acquisition is particularly significant in the context of the expanding hyperscale and AI-driven data centre sector, which plays a critical role in achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

As part of the acquisition, Aaron Wangenheim has been appointed CEO of Yondr, and Sandip Mahajan has joined as CFO, both effective immediately. Their leadership is expected to drive Yondr’s growth and innovation in providing scalable, AI-ready data solutions.

Yondr’s Global Capacity and Commitment to Sustainable Growth

• Yondr operates globally, addressing the complex capacity needs of leading technology companies.
• The company has over 420MW of committed hyperscale capacity, with potential scalability exceeding 1GW.
• This capacity supports the rapid expansion of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, aligning with SDG 9 by fostering resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.

Partnerships Driving Long-Term Value and Sustainable Development

Jon Mauck, Senior Managing Director and Head of Data Centres at DigitalBridge, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition:

“With a diverse global portfolio of campuses, Yondr further strengthens DigitalBridge’s world-class data centre portfolio and reinforces our focus on being a global partner to leading hyperscale, technology, and AI companies driving the digital economy.”

Mauck highlighted the commitment to collaboration with new leadership and La Caisse, underscoring a partnership-oriented approach to long-term value creation that supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

La Caisse’s Role and Investment Philosophy

La Caisse, now sharing joint control of Yondr with DigitalBridge, brings extensive experience in digital infrastructure investments. Emmanuel Jaclot, EVP and Head of Infrastructure at La Caisse, stated:

“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.”

La Caisse’s involvement aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by fostering sustainable economic development through infrastructure investment.

Historical Collaboration and Industry Impact

1. DigitalBridge and La Caisse have a history of successful partnerships, including a 30% stake acquisition in Vertical Bridge in 2019.
2. In 2024, their collaboration supported a $3.3 billion tower transaction with Verizon, enhancing digital infrastructure capacity.

Leadership Expertise and Future Outlook

• Aaron Wangenheim brings over 20 years of data centre leadership experience, previously serving as COO at T5 Data Centers.
• Sandip Mahajan contributes decades of infrastructure investment expertise from prior roles at Mitie Group and Balfour Beatty.
• The leadership transition supports Yondr’s strategic growth, innovation, and commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The acquisition and ongoing development of Yondr’s data centre capabilities contribute directly to multiple SDGs:

• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure): Enhancing resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation in digital technologies.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Promoting sustainable data centre operations that reduce environmental impact.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Supporting economic growth through infrastructure investment and job creation.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Strengthening global partnerships to mobilize resources and expertise for sustainable development.

Related Developments

• Inside Zayo’s Crown Castle deal: DigitalBridge’s fibre head on why it’s critical for AI growth
• Yondr Group powers up second data centre at London campus
• Yondr breaks ground on 40MW London data centre in London campus expansion

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article focuses on digital infrastructure development, data centres, and technology capacity expansion, which directly relate to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The expansion of data centres and leadership appointments indicate economic growth and employment opportunities in the technology and infrastructure sectors.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Although not explicitly mentioned, the scale of data centres (420MW to over 1GW) implies significant energy consumption, which connects to the need for sustainable energy use.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The focus on scalable and AI-ready data solutions suggests an emphasis on efficient resource use and innovation in production processes.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 9 Targets
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors, including encouraging innovation and increasing the number of research and development workers.
2. SDG 8 Targets
   • Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.
3. SDG 7 Targets
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
4. SDG 12 Targets
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Capacity Metrics
   • Data centre capacity in megawatts (MW) and gigawatts (GW) (e.g., “over 420MW of capacity already committed” and “potential to scale to more than 1GW”) can be used to measure infrastructure development progress (related to SDG 9.1).
2. Investment and Partnership Indicators
   • Investment amounts and partnerships (e.g., “$3.3 billion tower transaction with Verizon”) indicate economic growth and innovation support (related to SDG 8.2 and 9.5).
3. Leadership and Employment Indicators
   • Appointments of CEO and CFO with extensive experience imply organizational capacity building and employment quality (related to SDG 8.5).
4. Innovation and AI-readiness
   • The development of AI-ready data solutions suggests progress in technological upgrading and innovation (related to SDG 9.5).
5. Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (Implied)
   • While not explicitly stated, the scale of data centres implies a need for measuring energy consumption and efficiency improvements (related to SDG 7.3 and 12.2).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: capacitymedia.com