SoftBank in talks to acquire DigitalBridge as AI infrastructure demand drives $6.7 trillion market

SoftBank Pursues DigitalBridge Acquisition to Expand AI Infrastructure Portfolio

SoftBank is in advanced negotiations to acquire DigitalBridge, a move that would position the Japanese conglomerate at the center of the booming digital infrastructure market driven by artificial intelligence 1

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. The potential deal could be finalized by the end of the year, according to sources familiar with the matter 3

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. DigitalBridge shares jumped as much as 35% following the news, though the stock has declined nearly 14% this year, giving the Boca Raton, Florida-based company a market value of approximately $1.8 billion 1

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Tapping Into $108 Billion in AI-Linked Assets

DigitalBridge, led by CEO Marc Ganzi, stands as one of the world's largest dedicated digital infrastructure firms, managing $108 billion in assets 3

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. The private equity firm invests across multiple verticals including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, small cells, and edge infrastructure. Its portfolio includes prominent companies such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch, and AtlasEdge 1

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. For SoftBank's billionaire founder Masayoshi Son, this acquisition represents an opportunity to capitalize on surging demand for computing capacity that underpins AI applications 2

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Record Investor Capital Flows Into Digital Infrastructure

The timing of this potential acquisition reflects broader market dynamics, as investors have funneled record capital into digital infrastructure this year. The bet centers on growing power demand transforming data centers into prime real estate 1

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. McKinsey projects that spending on AI infrastructure could reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, underscoring the massive scale of opportunity 3

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. This projection highlights why dealmaking involving digital infrastructure platforms has accelerated in recent years, with investment firms eyeing data center investor holdings to tap growth fueled by artificial intelligence, cloud services, and data localization .

SoftBank's Strategic Position in Stargate Initiative

SoftBank already participates in Stargate, the ambitious private-sector initiative launched by U.S. President Donald Trump in January, which plans to spend up to $500 billion to build AI infrastructure 1

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. The project includes other major players such as OpenAI and Oracle. Acquiring the data center investor would provide SoftBank with immediate access to critical infrastructure assets needed to support this initiative and capitalize on the demand for data centers driving the sector 2

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Implications for the Alternative Asset Manager Landscape

This potential transaction mirrors recent moves by other major financial players. BlackRock acquired alternative asset manager Global Infrastructure Partners last year, which has since acquired several data center firms, adding AI-linked infrastructure to its portfolio . The deal would take the New York-listed DigitalBridge private, allowing SoftBank to integrate the digital infrastructure firm's operations more closely with its existing investments 2

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. While deliberations remain ongoing and there's no certainty they will lead to an agreement, the transaction could materialize within weeks 2

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. Both DigitalBridge and SoftBank have declined to comment on the negotiations 1

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