Supporting global data center portfolio acquisition

Ramboll played a crucial role in supporting DigitalBridge's successful acquisition of Yondr Group through one of its managed investment funds. Yondr Group is renowned for developing and operating state-of-the-art hyperscale data centers globally.

Nick Howard, Compliance, Strategy and Transactions Global Service Line Director who led Ramboll's involvement in the transaction, remarked, "We delivered multi-practice advice for this significant data center acquisition, which involved assessment of 12 operational, under-construction, and proposed data centers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, adding to Ramboll's extensive global portfolio of data center transactions. Our industry-leading team, comprising experts from across the globe, collaborated seamlessly on this project."

Comprehensive EHS and ESG due diligence

Ramboll's support encompassed a comprehensive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and environmental health and safety (EHS) due diligence assessment. Our support included extensive ESG evaluations, which involved detailed reviews of applicable regulatory compliance, environmental (pollution) liabilities, and ESG-related risks and opportunities, to an agreed materiality threshold. EHS assessments were conducted to identify the target's compliance status with applicable environmental, health and safety regulations and standards.

Comprehensive technical diligence

Ramboll's team also undertook comprehensive technical diligence, covering relevant mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) aspects. This included evaluating the performance of facility infrastructure, single points of failure, opportunities to improve efficiency, power supply, monitoring and control systems, cooling systems, fire protection and fuel storage. The technical evaluation also assessed the target's budget and construction timeline, considering risks related to time or cost to complete.

The assessment process

The due diligence assessments were conducted through an extensive review of the vendor data room, numerous Q&A sessions with vendor management, and confirmatory site visits to selected facilities to review on-the-ground conditions. We provided DigitalBridge with interim findings and progress updates via all-workstream and Ramboll-specific workstream calls. Additionally, Ramboll provided post-signing support to DigitalBridge and its stakeholders.