SoftBank Enters Advanced Talks to Acquire DigitalBridge
Japan’s SoftBank Group has entered advanced negotiations to acquire DigitalBridge, a U.S.-based investment firm focused on digital infrastructure assets, including data centers, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
The sources noted that an announcement could come soon, although no final agreement has been reached, and the timing or terms could still change.
Following news of the talks on December 5, DigitalBridge shares surged 45%, pushing the company’s market capitalization to approximately $2.5 billion, with an enterprise value of about $3.8 billion including debt.
The potential deal aligns with SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s strategy to capitalize on the surging demand for computing capacity required to power artificial intelligence applications.
As of September 2024, DigitalBridge manages approximately $108 billion in assets, with a portfolio spanning digital infrastructure operators such as
Yondr Group, Data Centres, Vantage, Switch, DataBank, AtlasEdge, and AIMS.
The move builds on SoftBank’s broader asset management investments, including its 2017 acquisition of Fortress Investment Group for more than $3 billion, which was later sold in 2024 to a consortium led by Mubadala.
In January, SoftBank announced the $500 billion Stargate project alongside Oracle, OpenAI, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, aimed at developing large-scale data centers in the United States. Progress on the initiative has since slowed due to site selection disputes, financing challenges, and market volatility.
The talks come as Masayoshi Son continues to restructure SoftBank’s portfolio, monetizing select assets, including the sale of a $5.8 billion stake in Nvidia, to redirect capital toward AI-focused investments.
