On Monday, SoftBank Group Corp. (OTC:SFTBF)(OTC:SFTBY) disclosed an agreement to acquire DigitalBridge Group Inc. (NYSE:DBRG) in an all-cash transaction valued at roughly $4 billion. This move represents a strategic push by SoftBank to enhance its global infrastructure capabilities to support the evolving demands of artificial intelligence (AI).
Under the definitive terms of the acquisition, SoftBank will purchase all outstandings shares of DigitalBridge at $16.00 per share in cash. The pricing reflects an enterprise valuation of approximately $4.0 billion for DigitalBridge, which operates as an alternative asset manager driven by digital infrastructure investments. Their portfolio spans critical components such as data centers, cell towers, fiber optic networks, and edge computing infrastructure.
The acquisition aligns with SoftBank’s ongoing commitment to its broader ambition of fostering Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI). Their chairman and CEO, Masayoshi Son, emphasized the necessity for expanded physical infrastructure comprising compute capacity, high-bandwidth connectivity, reliable power, and scalable platforms to support AI workloads at scale.
“As AI transforms industries worldwide, we need more compute, connectivity, power, and scalable infrastructure,” Son stated. “DigitalBridge is a leader in digital infrastructure, and this acquisition will strengthen the foundation for next-generation AI data centers.”
From DigitalBridge’s perspective, CEO Marc Ganzi remarked that joining forces with SoftBank represents an alignment with a visionary investor possessing significant capital strength and an extensive global network. Ganzi anticipates that these resources will accelerate DigitalBridge’s mission to build and scale essential digital infrastructure assets across international markets.
Financially, SoftBank’s offer delivers a 15% premium relative to DigitalBridge's closing trading price on December 26, 2025, and a substantial 50% premium against the unaffected 52-week average closing price as of December 4, 2025. The transaction has been unanimously endorsed by DigitalBridge’s board after careful evaluation and recommendation by an independent special committee.
Following anticipated completion in the latter half of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals, DigitalBridge will maintain operational independence and continue as a separately managed platform. Ganzi is expected to remain at the helm, steering the company’s ongoing operations. SoftBank highlighted that integrating DigitalBridge’s capabilities strengthens its capacity to finance and scale AI-centric digital infrastructure globally, adapting to the intensifying compute demands of future AI developments.
In market response to the announcement, DigitalBridge’s stock rose by 9.77% to $15.28 at the time of reporting on Monday. Trading levels approached the company’s 52-week high of $15.55, showcasing investor confidence in the strategic value of the acquisition.
This transaction underscores how infrastructure investment is becoming a pivotal pillar in the broader AI economy, providing the necessary hardware backbone without which the next generation of AI advancements cannot be realized effectively.
Key Points
- SoftBank Group plans to acquire all outstanding shares of DigitalBridge at $16.00 per share in an all-cash deal valued at roughly $4 billion enterprise value.
- DigitalBridge specializes in digital infrastructure assets including data centers, cell towers, fiber networks, and edge infrastructure vital to AI operations.
- The deal offers a 15% premium over DigitalBridge’s closing price on December 26, 2025, and a 50% premium against its unaffected 52-week average price.
- SoftBank’s acquisition aligns directly with its mission to advance Artificial Super Intelligence by scaling the foundational infrastructure that supports AI model training and deployment.
- DigitalBridge will continue to operate independently under CEO Marc Ganzi after transaction closing, expected in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval.
- The transaction has received unanimous approval from DigitalBridge’s board and was recommended by a special committee of independent directors.
- SoftBank emphasizes this acquisition enhances its ability to finance and scale AI-focused infrastructure worldwide.
- Market reaction has been positive, with DigitalBridge shares rising nearly 10% and reaching near 52-week highs following the announcement.
Risks and Uncertainties
- The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals which may delay or condition the closing of the acquisition.
- Post-completion, integration risks exist despite the intention for DigitalBridge to operate as a separate entity, including potential challenges in aligning strategic objectives over time.
- Market conditions or fluctuations in investor sentiment may impact the valuation dynamics or the perceived benefit of the acquisition.
- Operational execution risks remain in scaling digital infrastructure assets globally to meet rapid AI compute demands.
- The projected benefits hinge on continued demand growth for AI infrastructure and the effectiveness of leveraging SoftBank’s capital and network support.
- Price premiums paid may not fully translate into shareholder value if market or industry conditions shift adversely.
- DigitalBridge’s stock price volatility could present uncertainty until the acquisition fully closes and integration plans are enacted.