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Japanese multinational company SoftBank Group will acquire U.S.-based digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at about $4 billion, as the Japanese conglomerate sharpens its focus on building the backbone of the global artificial intelligence economy.
Under the agreement, SoftBank will pay $16 per share for DigitalBridge, representing a 15% premium to its previous close and valuing the company at roughly $2.9 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of next year. DigitalBridge shares jumped nearly 10% following the announcement.
The acquisition significantly expands SoftBank’s exposure to critical digital infrastructure, including data centers, fiber networks, cell towers, and edge computing, especially at a time when demand for computing power is surging due to rapid AI adoption.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has been aggressively repositioning the group around artificial intelligence, seeking to capitalise on what he has described as a once-in-a-generation technology shift driven by large language models and advanced computing needs.
DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform, with CEO Marc Ganzi retaining leadership, the companies said.
Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital, DigitalBridge pivoted away from traditional real estate and rebranded in 2021 to focus exclusively on digital infrastructure. Its portfolio includes major assets such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge. As of September 30, the firm managed around $108 billion in assets, making it one of the largest specialised investors in the digital ecosystem.
The deal also strengthens SoftBank’s participation in large-scale AI infrastructure projects. DigitalBridge is among the investors in the Stargate initiative, alongside OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based investor MGX, aimed at building massive computing capacity for advanced AI development.
In September, OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank said they plan to develop five new computing sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio, with a combined power capacity of around seven gigawatts once fully operational.
Analysts say the acquisition marks another step in SoftBank’s push to control strategic assets underpinning the AI revolution, even as competition intensifies in the global race to build data-heavy infrastructure.
Under the agreement, SoftBank will pay $16 per share for DigitalBridge, representing a 15% premium to its previous close and valuing the company at roughly $2.9 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of next year. DigitalBridge shares jumped nearly 10% following the announcement.
The acquisition significantly expands SoftBank’s exposure to critical digital infrastructure, including data centers, fiber networks, cell towers, and edge computing, especially at a time when demand for computing power is surging due to rapid AI adoption.
SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son has been aggressively repositioning the group around artificial intelligence, seeking to capitalise on what he has described as a once-in-a-generation technology shift driven by large language models and advanced computing needs.
DigitalBridge will continue to operate as a separately managed platform, with CEO Marc Ganzi retaining leadership, the companies said.
Founded in 1991 as Colony Capital, DigitalBridge pivoted away from traditional real estate and rebranded in 2021 to focus exclusively on digital infrastructure. Its portfolio includes major assets such as Vantage Data Centers, Zayo, Switch and AtlasEdge. As of September 30, the firm managed around $108 billion in assets, making it one of the largest specialised investors in the digital ecosystem.
The deal also strengthens SoftBank’s participation in large-scale AI infrastructure projects. DigitalBridge is among the investors in the Stargate initiative, alongside OpenAI, Oracle and Abu Dhabi-based investor MGX, aimed at building massive computing capacity for advanced AI development.
In September, OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank said they plan to develop five new computing sites across Texas, New Mexico and Ohio, with a combined power capacity of around seven gigawatts once fully operational.
Analysts say the acquisition marks another step in SoftBank’s push to control strategic assets underpinning the AI revolution, even as competition intensifies in the global race to build data-heavy infrastructure.
