According to several reports, citing informed sources, the deal could be finalised by the end of this year, and if successful, the Japanese investment management company will take DigitalBridge private.
Though discussions are ongoing and there is no guarantee they will result in an agreement, the reports claimed.
The move comes as McKinsey has predicted spending on AI-related infrastructure could reach $6.7 trillion by 2030.
Implications if the deal goes through
If successful, the move could accelerate the construction of data centres needed for AI projects like OpenAI’s Stargate. With more funding and resources, these facilities can be built faster, helping meet the soaring demand for AI compute power.
The deal also showcases growing interest from bigger investors in the data centre industry, as more capital is likely to flow into projects supporting AI infrastructure, which could create opportunities for large operators.
Additionally, the acquisition also highlights SoftBank showing confidence in AI, encouraging other investors to put money into similar projects.
SoftBank’s expanding AI portfolio
Softbank has made several investments in AI over the past few years, including backing OpenAI and the Stargate AI infrastructure project and launching a joint venture in Japan with the AI giant.
Alongside this, in March this year, SoftBank acquired chip-maker Ampere Computing for $6.5 billion, to strengthen its AI‑hardware backbone for data‑centres and cloud infrastructure.
Most recently, SoftBank and Yaskawa Electric Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote the social implementation of ‘Physical AI’.
The move will combine SoftBank’s AI-RAN communication technology with Yaskawa’s AI-powered robotics, in a bid to make robots safer, more flexible, and more capable in real-world settings where they must operate side-by-side with people.
This comes as the company announced it was offloading its entire Nvidia stake, worth nearly $6 billion, to bankroll its AI ambitions.
DigitalBridge CEO Marc Ganzi to deliver keynote at 25th Metro Connect
DigitalBridge’s CEO Marc Ganzi has been announced as a keynote speaker at the 25th edition of Metro Connect USA in Fort Lauderdale.
His return is expected to bring sharp perspectives and a clear view of what’s next in the industry to an audience of over 3,500 attendees, which includes 70% at director-level and above and 45% in the C-suite.
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Metro Connect USA 2026
Welcome to Metro Connect USA, the largest event for digital infrastructure leaders in the United States. You are invited to join over 3,500 attendees from every sector of the US digital infrastructure market. From fiber optics to data centers, the event serves as a pivotal gathering for forging partnerships, securing funding, gaining insights into industry advancements, and getting deals done.
