SoftBank Group Corp. is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of DigitalBridge Group Inc., a prominent investor in digital infrastructure and data centers. The move signals SoftBank’s growing ambitions to strengthen its role in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector. While discussions are still in progress and no final agreement has been reached, sources familiar with the matter suggest the Japanese conglomerate is considering a plan to take the New York-listed firm private.
SoftBank Group is in talks to acquire DigitalBridge Group, a private equity firm that invests in assets such as data centers, as it seeks to take advantage of an AI-driven boom in digital infrastructure. https://t.co/AsMsxGMJj7
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) December 6, 2025
News of the possible acquisition sent DigitalBridge’s shares soaring by 45% last Friday, marking the company’s largest single-day gain. The stock closed at $14.12, bringing DigitalBridge’s market capitalization to approximately $2.58 billion, recovering from a 13% decline earlier in the year.
The potential deal aligns with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s vision to position the company at the forefront of the AI revolution by securing access to high-performance computing infrastructure. DigitalBridge currently manages around $108 billion in digital assets, including major data center players such as AIMS, AtlasEdge, DataBank, Switch, Vantage Data Centers, and Yondr Group.
Analysts believe that with the right financial backing and strategic leadership, DigitalBridge’s infrastructure portfolio could deliver even greater value. Ric Prentiss, an analyst at Raymond James, noted that while DigitalBridge might entertain a sale, it would likely demand a significant premium and favorable terms.
This isn't SoftBank’s first foray into asset management. The company previously acquired Fortress Investment Group in 2017, only to divest its stake in 2024. More recently, SoftBank launched a $500 billion initiative—dubbed Stargate—in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, with the goal of developing new data centers across the U.S. However, the project has faced delays over site selection and external funding challenges.
As part of Stargate, the partners plan to construct five large-scale data centers in Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio, targeting a combined capacity of 7 gigawatts—enough to power millions of homes. To help fund these ambitions, Son recently sold $5.8 billion worth of shares in Nvidia, emphasizing the scale of investment required to stay ahead in AI infrastructure.
Neither SoftBank nor DigitalBridge has publicly commented on the acquisition talks. Still, the potential deal is drawing close attention from both investors and industry insiders, as it could have major implications for the global data center landscape.
