Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to divest 10 data center facilities for USD 225 million in cash, the Washington, D.C.-based internet services provider announced on May 26, 2026.

The sale will be made through Cogent's indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Cogent Fiber, LLC, to a newly formed entity sponsored by I Squared Capital.

Facilities Span Ten Markets Across the United States

The 10 data center facilities included in the transaction are located across a broad geographic footprint covering major markets in the South, Midwest, West Coast, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.

The specific locations are Phoenix, Arizona; Anaheim, California; Burbank, California; Stockton, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Elkridge, Maryland; Kansas City, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Houston, Texas.

The transaction represents a notable consolidation of physical data center assets for Cogent, a company that describes itself as a facilities-based provider of low-cost, high-speed internet access and private network services to bandwidth-intensive businesses.

Cogent operates an all-optical IP network providing services across 306 markets globally and serves customers across 57 countries.

Transaction Structure and Regulatory Timeline

Under the terms of the agreement, the aggregate purchase price is USD 225 million in cash. The transaction is structured as a sale from Cogent Fiber, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Cogent Communications Holdings, to the newly formed I Squared Capital-sponsored entity.

The deal is expected to close on the later of two dates: June 12, 2026, or the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

The Hart-Scott-Rodino process requires parties to certain large transactions to notify federal antitrust regulators and observe a waiting period before completing a deal, giving authorities the opportunity to review competitive implications.

About the Parties Involved

Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. trades on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker symbol CCOI and is headquartered at 2450 N St, NW, Washington, D.C.

The company characterizes itself as one of the world's largest internet service providers and reports delivering internet, Ethernet, and colocation services across more than 116,809 enterprise and NetCentric customer connections.

Its network infrastructure is described as facilities-based and all-optical. The buyer is a newly formed entity sponsored by I Squared Capital.

Cogent's announcement did not provide additional details about the structure or operational plans of the acquiring entity beyond identifying I Squared Capital as its sponsor.

Transaction Disclosed Via Formal Press Release

The announcement was made through a formal press release issued by Cogent on May 26, 2026, from its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

The release included standard forward-looking statement disclosures noting that expectations regarding the sale and closing of the transaction involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results could differ materially from current expectations.

Cogent stated it assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in the release.

Media and analyst inquiries were directed to Jocelyn Johnson, identified as Cogent's Senior Marketing Communications Manager, reachable at the company's Washington, D.C. offices.