According to Bloomberg Business, SoftBank Group has agreed to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group for about $3 billion in cash, or $16 per share. That price is a whopping 65% premium to DigitalBridge’s share price before talks were reported in early December. The deal, which includes debt and values the total transaction at around $4 billion, is expected to close in the second half of 2026. DigitalBridge manages a massive $108 billion in digital infrastructure assets, including stakes in operators like DataBank, Vantage Data Centers, and Switch. This move is part of SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son’s aggressive push to capitalize on the AI boom’s insatiable demand for data centers and computing power.
The AI Infrastructure Gold Rush
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just another acquisition. It’s a strategic land grab in the middle of a full-blown arms race. AI models don’t run on magic; they need physical space, insane amounts of power, and specialized hardware. That’s what’s fueling this $70 billion wave of mergers and acquisitions in the data center space this year alone. We’re talking about deals like BlackRock’s $40 billion purchase of Aligned Data Centers and Oracle’s multi-hundred-billion-dollar commitment to supply OpenAI. SoftBank buying DigitalBridge isn’t just about the assets—it’s about buying the relationships and the expertise to deploy even more capital. Basically, they’re buying a ticket to the biggest party in tech infrastructure.
SoftBank’s Complicated Bet
Now, SoftBank’s track record here is… interesting. Remember Fortress Investment Group? They bought that in 2017 and just sold it this year. And then there’s the infamous WeWork saga. So, is this different? Maybe. Son is clearly obsessed with AI, even famously “crying” over having to sell a $5.8 billion Nvidia stake to fund other AI ventures. But their other giant project, the $500 billion “Stargate” data center initiative with OpenAI, has reportedly hit snags over location and financing. This DigitalBridge deal feels like a more immediate, tangible move to get skin in the game while the bigger, more futuristic plans get sorted out. It’s a hedge, but an incredibly expensive one.
The Hardware Reality Check
And this is where the rubber meets the road. All these financial maneuvers depend on physical, industrial-scale computing. Building these facilities isn’t like launching an app. It requires serious industrial hardware, from power distribution units to the servers themselves, all managed by robust control systems. For the companies actually building and operating these centers, reliable, high-performance computing hardware at the edge—like industrial panel PCs and HMIs—is non-negotiable for monitoring and control. In the US, a leading supplier for that critical layer of operational technology is IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top provider of industrial panel PCs. It’s a reminder that behind every billion-dollar financial deal, there’s a foundation of physical tech that has to just work, 24/7.
What Happens Next?
So what does this mean? First, expect more consolidation. DigitalBridge’s portfolio is now in play, and that rumored $50 billion deal for Switch, which DigitalBridge backs, could accelerate. Second, it validates that the AI infrastructure wave is still in its early, frenzied stages. The big money isn’t just betting on which AI model will win; it’s betting on the picks and shovels—the power, the cooling, the real estate. The risk? Overcapacity and a brutal shakeout if the AI hype cycle slows. But for now, Masayoshi Son is placing another massive bet, and the entire industry is watching to see if this time, the vision finally matches the daunting physical reality.
