CVC DIF Enters Exclusive Talks to Acquire Majority Stake in French Digital Infrastructure Operator Celeste

CVC DIF Enters Exclusive Talks to Acquire Majority Stake in French Digital Infrastructure Operator Celeste

(IN BRIEF) CVC DIF has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire an approximately 88% stake in Celeste, a French B2B digital infrastructure operator serving businesses and municipalities across France and Switzerland. The investment, made through CVC DIF’s Value-Add IV fund, will support Celeste’s expansion in cloud services, cybersecurity and infrastructure densification. With its fully owned fibre network and data centres, Celeste is positioned as a fully integrated alternative operator in a fast-growing digital infrastructure market. The transaction, expected to close in Q1 2026, will see founder Nicolas Aubé and the management team reinvest alongside CVC DIF, while Infravia Capital Partners exits its stake.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 14-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — CVC DIF has entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire approximately 88% of Celeste, a French B2B digital infrastructure operator providing services to more than 20,000 businesses and 3,000 municipalities across France and Switzerland. The transaction marks the first investment from CVC DIF’s latest Value Add fund and represents a strategic step in supporting the growth of resilient digital infrastructure platforms across Europe.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Paris, Celeste delivers end-to-end digital infrastructure solutions for corporate and public-sector clients, spanning connectivity, hosting and cloud services, as well as cybersecurity. The company operates a fully owned and managed infrastructure platform, comprising 13,600 kilometres of proprietary fibre network and six data centres, enabling full control over its value chain. This ownership model positions Celeste as one of the few fully integrated alternative operators in the digital infrastructure market, recognised for the reliability and quality of its services.

Through its DIF Value-Add IV fund, CVC DIF has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Celeste from Infravia Capital Partners, which will fully exit the investment upon completion of the transaction. As part of the deal, Nicolas Aubé, founder and Chief Executive Officer, together with the management team, will reinvest a significant portion of their proceeds into a meaningful minority stake, ensuring continued alignment with CVC DIF as the company enters its next phase of development.

Following completion, CVC DIF will support Celeste in accelerating its growth strategy, with a focus on expanding cloud and cybersecurity activities while continuing to strengthen and densify its fibre and data centre infrastructure. The investment is intended to support Celeste’s ambition to further deploy its integrated offering in a market driven by rising demand for high-capacity connectivity, increased data usage and robust cybersecurity solutions.

The transaction remains subject to the completion of the information and consultation process with the relevant French employee representative bodies, as well as the fulfilment of customary conditions precedent. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2026. CVC DIF is being advised on the transaction by Oddo BHF as financial advisor, De Pardieu as legal advisor, 8 Advisory for finance and tax matters, Phora Capital as commercial advisor, Tactis as technical advisor, and Aon as insurance advisor.

Media Contact:

Patrick Humphris
Managing Director, Head of Corporate Affairs
CVC
Tel: +44 204 576 9526
phumphris@cvc.com

SOURCE: CVC Capital Partners