MINT·2025-12-06 05:58Core Viewpoint - SoftBank Group is in discussions to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc., aiming to enhance its digital infrastructure portfolio amid a growing demand for AI-driven services [1][2]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - SoftBank is reportedly negotiating to buy DigitalBridge and take it private, with a potential deal expected to be finalized by the end of this year [2]. - The acquisition talks could lead to an agreement in the coming weeks, although no certainty exists regarding the outcome [2]. Group 2: Market Context - Investors have invested record capital into digital infrastructure this year, anticipating that increasing power demand will elevate data centers as valuable assets [3]. - McKinsey projects that spending on AI-linked infrastructure could reach $6.7 trillion by 2030, indicating a significant market opportunity [3]. Group 3: DigitalBridge Performance - DigitalBridge shares experienced a 45% increase, marking its largest one-day gain ever, following the news of SoftBank's acquisition discussions [4]. - The stock closed at $14.12, giving DigitalBridge a market value of $2.58 billion, despite a 13% decline in its stock price earlier this year [4]. Group 4: DigitalBridge's Assets - DigitalBridge, led by CEO Marc Ganzi, had assets under management valued at $108 billion as of September, with a portfolio that includes various digital infrastructure operators [5]. Group 5: SoftBank's Strategic Moves - SoftBank, under Masayoshi Son, aims to capitalize on the rising demand for computing capacity essential for AI applications [6]. - The company announced a $500 billion project called Stargate to build data centers in the U.S., in collaboration with OpenAI, Oracle Corp., and Abu Dhabi's MGX [6]. - However, the rollout of the Stargate project has faced delays due to disagreements over data center locations [7].