DigitalBridge manages and invests in data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and other digital infrastructure. As of September 30, the Boca Raton–based company reported approximately $108 billion in assets under management. Executives at DigitalBridge said joining SoftBank will allow the firm to pursue longer-term investment horizons and scale its operations to serve global technology clients as they expand AI capabilities.
Markets reacted quickly to news of the agreement. DigitalBridge shares rose about 10 percent in early trading on Monday, narrowing the gap between the market price and the agreed acquisition price. The stock had climbed as much as 50 percent last week after media reports suggested negotiations were nearing completion.
The acquisition comes amid vigorous investment in facilities that support artificial intelligence. Leading cloud providers and semiconductor companies have poured billions of dollars into data centers equipped with high-performance graphics processing units and advanced cooling systems. Research firm International Data Corporation projects global spending on AI-related infrastructure to grow at a double-digit rate through the decade, reflecting heightened enterprise adoption.
SoftBank’s move follows a series of portfolio adjustments designed to free up capital for AI initiatives. Earlier this year the group sold its entire holding in U.S. chip designer Nvidia for roughly $5.83 billion. The divestment created room for subsequent investments, including SoftBank’s commitment to OpenAI and now the purchase of DigitalBridge.
Under the terms of the deal, DigitalBridge shareholders will receive cash consideration, and the company will become a privately held subsidiary within SoftBank’s broader ecosystem. The buyer intends to fund the purchase with existing cash reserves and credit facilities. Neither company disclosed additional details about integration plans or potential leadership changes once the transaction closes.
Regulatory filings indicate that SoftBank expects the acquisition to accelerate deployment of next-generation data centers optimized for AI workloads. These facilities typically require dense compute clusters, low-latency connectivity, and expanded power capacity. DigitalBridge’s existing assets, combined with SoftBank’s capital resources, are expected to create a platform capable of serving hyperscale cloud providers, telecom operators, and emerging AI companies.
Industry analysts note that data-center operators are experiencing heightened demand as enterprises shift workloads to the cloud and adopt large-language models. Equipment suppliers face constraints in manufacturing high-end chips, and utilities are fielding requests for additional power. By bringing DigitalBridge in-house, SoftBank positions itself to capture value across multiple layers of the AI supply chain, from semiconductors to physical infrastructure.
Completion of the transaction remains contingent upon regulatory clearance in several jurisdictions, including the United States and Japan, as well as approval by DigitalBridge shareholders. Company representatives stated that they do not anticipate significant obstacles but acknowledged that review timelines could vary. Both parties plan to continue operating independently until closing.
Crédito da imagem: Kazuhiro Nogi | AFP | Getty Images
