DigitalBridge and JEXI Complete Acquisition of NEC Data Center Assets in Japan
Digitalbridge, Inc. (NYSE: DBRG) and Japan Extensive Infrastructure Co., Ltd. (JEXI) announced March 31, 2026, the completion of their acquisition of select data center assets held by NEC Corporation in Japan's Kanagawa and Kobe regions, according to a statement distributed via Business Wire. The transaction was executed through affiliated funds of both DigitalBridge and JEXI.
Deal Structure and Post-Acquisition Operations
Following the close of the transaction, the acquired data center assets are expected to operate as a new, independent platform. NEC Corporation will continue to use the facilities as a primary customer, providing a stable contracted demand base as the platform pursues third-party colocation expansion. Financial terms of the transaction, including sale price, cap rate, and financing details, were not disclosed.
The deal marks DigitalBridge's second investment in Japan, following the take-private of JTOWER Inc. in early 2025.
Executive Commentary
Justin Chang, Senior Managing Director and Head of Asia at DigitalBridge, commented on the transaction: "Japan's enterprise colocation market presents highly attractive investment opportunities supported by resilient domestic demand and structural growth drivers. We are very honored to be able to partner with NEC, a technology company representing Japan. We intend to expand these data center assets going forward while also meeting the needs of domestic data center customers other than NEC. We are also grateful for the cooperation of JEXI, who played an important role in the composition and execution of this complex asset carve-out."
Kenjiro Okamura, Representative Director and CIO of JEXI, said: "We are very honored to be able to collaborate on this business with NEC, which leads Japan's DX, and DigitalBridge, which leads global digital infrastructure investment. The importance of digital infrastructure has never been higher due to the spread of generative AI and other factors. Just as industrial finance in the past supported heavy and long-term industries, we at JEXI believe that modern industrial finance lies in providing long-term growth capital for such important social infrastructure. We promote investment activities with the mission of functioning as a 'node' that connects funds from investors seeking medium-to-long-term and stable operation to infrastructure businesses that support Japan's growth, creating a virtuous cycle of funds, assets, and capital."
Yuka Shigezawa, Head of Cloud and Managed Services at NEC, stated: "By leveraging DigitalBridge's extensive data center operating track record and JEXI's locally rooted knowledge, we have a system in place that can respond to the sophistication of our infrastructure needs. This transaction makes it possible to continuously respond to customers' data center needs through a flexible colocation model."
Strategic Context
For NEC, the divestiture aligns with the company's stated strategy of improving capital efficiency and concentrating resources on its digital transformation (DX) business. By retaining anchor tenant status at the facilities, NEC maintains continuity of its data center operations while freeing capital for core business initiatives.
DigitalBridge, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, describes itself as a global alternative asset management firm focused on digital infrastructure investment, with more than 30 years of investment and operating experience across cell towers, data centers, fiber, small cells, and edge infrastructure. The firm manages infrastructure assets for limited partners and shareholders, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
About JEXI
JEXI is an investment advisory firm affiliated with the Mitsui Fudosan Trust Group, specializing in domestic infrastructure in Japan. Operating under the concept of "ALL JAPAN," JEXI aims to function as a node connecting investor capital with infrastructure businesses and enterprises, with a focus on digital, decarbonization, and social infrastructure sectors supporting Japan's growth.
No financial terms were disclosed. Forward-looking statements in the announcement are subject to risks including whether the newly established platform can successfully execute its strategy, whether domestic Japanese enterprise demand for secure, high-quality colocation services will continue to expand, and other risks described in DigitalBridge's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
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