Neither DigitalBridge Group CEO Marc Ganzi (left) nor 26North Partners CEO Josh Harris will comment on IJGlobal’s report of a pending acquisition of DigitalBridge.
In a surprising turn, 26North Partners—a specialist in alternative investments—is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc. (DBRG), the digital-infrastructure fund manager, also the parent company of Vertical Bridge. Energy trader Mercuria is said to be joining the bid, and sources tell IJGlobal that the deal could close within days. As the rumors circulated, DigitalBridge’s share price surged 37.30% from Monday through Thursday trading.
By contrast, over the same period:
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American Tower (AMT) slipped 3.77%
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Crown Castle (CCI) fell 4.03%
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SBA Communications (SBAC) dropped 4.42%
IJGlobal—whose daily briefings reach investment banks, institutional investors, development‐finance institutions, legal advisers, and governments worldwide—first broke the story. The publication, acquired by Green Street in September 2024 for its “top-quality objective insights” and global infrastructure coverage, enjoys a strong reputation for accuracy and market relevance.
Some analysts suggest the acquisition chatter may have leaked earlier than the public announcement yesterday: DBRG’s shares began climbing on Monday even as its REIT peers were down. Yet when WIA’s ConnectX 2025 conference convened its “View from the Tower” panel—moderated by WIA President & CEO Patrick Halley—no one asked why tower-owner stocks were diverging so sharply from the broader rally.
“While we do not know whether the report is valid or any transaction imminent, we believe an acquisition of DBRG by a larger alternative asset manager makes strategic sense in order to broaden DBRG’s scale,” KBW analyst Jade Rahmani said.
Meanwhile, brokerages remain upbeat on DigitalBridge. The consensus rating among 10 firms stands at 2.0—“Outperform” on a scale where 1 means Strong Buy and 5 Sell—underscoring investors’ confidence in DBRG’s prospects amid the takeover buzz.
